Charming and delicate Veronica flowers are able to decorate any flower bed or flowerbed, ennoble the orchard. The many shades of its petals range from sky blue to deep blue. Veronica is a plant that does not require much effort and time to grow. Almost all garden forms are natural species, very resistant to cold and with good survival rates. So why not try them on your yard?
Rod Veronica: description
This genus is the most numerous (about 500 species) among the Plantain family. Among them are annual and perennial herbaceous plants, less often shrubs, which are common in all parts of the world, but mainly in the temperate and cold regions of Eurasia. Representatives of the genus are widespread in our country.
Any veronica is a plant (photo attached) with characteristic generic features. The first of these are small flowers with two stamens, which are collected in paniculate, spike-shaped or umbellate inflorescences (sessile or on a long peduncle). The second is thick rhizomes, shortened orbranched, or many thin roots. Among the numerous representatives there are excellent honey plants, medicinal plants, as well as decorative ones. It is the latter that we will pay more attention to.
It should be noted that veronica is a plant, although it does not have outstanding external characteristics, but it is beautiful in its simplicity. Small flowers can rise above the flower bed collected in a slender spike or almost spread with a soft “pillow”, braiding everything around. We invite you to learn about the main types of veronica introduced into the culture.
Armenian Veronica
Short plant (7-10 cm) of bright green color, forming a dense and dense turf. Stems ascending or procumbent, woody at the base. Leaves 08-1.2 cm long, pinnately dissected at the base into thin and twisting lobes, are also decorative. The corolla of the flower is pale blue or with a lilac hue with a rich aroma. A pink variety has been bred. Armenian veronica is a very drought-resistant, unpretentious plant, which is why it is popular with flower growers when decorating lawns, alpine hills, and terraces. Flowering begins in mid-summer. The species is very sensitive to soil. Only rocky substrates with an alkaline environment and a small amount of river sand or fertilized clay are acceptable.
Veronica of Austria
Perennial plant with high erect stems from 30 to 70 cm, small leaves and star-shaped bright blue flowers collected in a brush. Flowering is long, begins from May-June. It is drought-resistant, decorative, widely used for decoration of rock gardens, rockeries, in group and single plantings. The natural habitat is steppes and forest-steppes, mountain meadows and rocky hills. The soil prefers well-drained, sandy.
Veronica big
A species widely distributed in the natural environment: the entire European part of Russia, the Caucasus, Western Siberia, the Mediterranean, Central Asia. It grows in sparse forest plantations, meadows and fields. This Veronica is a plant (photo above) with an impressive garden history. It has been introduced into culture since 1596. The species is characterized by the formation of dense bushes, from which flower stalks emerge on a long stem (up to 30 cm) with stars of flowers of a blue hue of varying degrees of saturation. A very unpretentious plant, characterized by high winter hardiness (does not require shelter) and drought resistance. It grows well on any garden soil, prefers sunny places and moisture-loving. Use it in group and single plantings, it is suitable for cutting into bouquets. Various varieties have been bred, differing in the size of the bush, color, and leaf color. In particular, True Blue is a tall veronica (blue). The plant (photo attached) has inflorescences up to 10 cm long, the flowering period is a month, from the end of May. Unusual variety Miffy Blue grows into a showy shrub with variegated decorative leaves and large pale blue buds.
Veronica gentian
Grows naturally in southern and middle regionsEuropean part of Russia, in the Caucasus and in the Crimea, in Asia Minor. This is a herbaceous plant that forms beautiful cushion-shaped bushes up to 45 cm high. The leaves are collected in a rosette, dark green, leathery. Inflorescence on a high shoot (30-70 cm), loose, many-flowered. The color of the corolla is pale blue, often towards white with clear blue streaks. The flowers are large, reaching a diameter of 1 cm. Flowering begins in June and lasts for a month, but the bush retains its decorative effect until frost. Gentian speedwell is a plant introduced into the culture of horticulture since 1784, during which time many varieties have been bred. Among them are Variegata with leaves bordered with a white stripe, Tissington White with almost white flowers, etc. Veronica is absolutely unpretentious, moisture-loving, but drought-resistant, shade-tolerant, but prefers well-lit places, shelter for the winter is not required.
Veronica spikelet
One of the most decorative species with a large number of bred varieties. Plant up to 40 cm tall with few single stems. Especially beautiful are the apical racemose dense inflorescences of saturated blue, blue, purple hues, less often white. The species has been introduced into culture since 1570. Flowering is long from mid-summer, gives a lot of seeds, propagates well by self-sowing. Any garden soil is suitable for its cultivation. Spikelet veronica is a winter-hardy, drought-resistant, light- and moisture-loving plant. Looks especially good in single plantings. Variety examples: Romiley Purple (intensepurple), Barcarolle (pink), Heidekind (raspberry pink), Rotfishs (cream), White Icicle (white, pictured).
Veronica small
Highly ornamental look, demanding on growing conditions. It is subendemic and grows in nature only on volcanic soils. Forms dense cushions with dark green leaves, completely strewn with small blue flowers of a pure shade and with a delicate aroma. In garden conditions, reproduction is possible only by dividing the rhizome. Veronica small requires nutritious soil, but in the complete absence of organic matter, constant moderate moisture and good lighting (sunny places) are needed.
Plant Veronica officinalis
This species has several advantages at once - decorative and useful. The plant is perennial, with creeping stems that root at the nodes. It grows quickly - up to 20 cm per season, so it can be used as a ground cover species. The flowers are collected in small brushes, pale lilac. Flowering is long from June to September. Mainly used as an ornamental leafy plant. Resistant to trampling, drought, frost, shade-tolerant, competitive. A high degree of overgrowth should be considered when choosing a planting site. In folk medicine, Veronica officinalis is used mainly as an expectorant for bronchial asthma, bronchitis in the form of infusions, decoctions, tea.
Features of cultivation
Veronica is a plant (description - above), or rather a whole genus with numerous representatives, with an unpretentious character. The only exceptions are some varieties. Care is absolutely simple. The plant is undemanding to soils, light factor, neighborhood with other species. If you decide to grow it in your flower beds, then you should pay attention to a few key points.
- When preparing the substrate for planting, pay attention to the variety you are planting, and, depending on this, supplement it with the necessary components, for example, for hair and gravel - crushed stone.
- High degree of drought tolerance doesn't mean you don't need to water. On the contrary, most species prefer moderate moisture.
- Cut wilted inflorescences, so you keep the decorative look of the bush longer and, possibly, achieve re-blooming.
