Very Van Gogh Speedwell

Very Van Gogh Spike Speedwell (Veronica 'Very Van Gogh')

Very Van Gogh Spike Speedwell delivers a long run of rosy purple flower spikes that bring clean structure to the garden when summer hits its stride. The upright habit adds height without feeling heavy, so it layers easily into mixed borders and still looks refined up close. Pollinators stay busy around the blooms, which keeps the garden feeling alive for weeks. With sun, good drainage, and simple deadheading, it stays tidy and keeps the color coming.

Distinctive Features

This speedwell produces paintbrush-like spikes of vivid purple to rosy purple flowers on well-branched stems, creating a fuller display and a longer bloom window from mid to late summer. Each main spike is often joined by multiple secondary spikes, which helps extend the show and adds a softly layered look. Bright green, clump-forming foliage stays upright and neat, and it may take on subtle red tones as temperatures cool. The overall effect is vertical, airy, and polished, with strong garden presence in a compact, manageable footprint.

Growing Conditions

• Sun: Full sun to part shade, with best flowering and strongest stems in full sun.
• Soil: Well-drained soil with average fertility, and it performs best where moisture is consistent but not soggy.
• Water: Moderate water, keeping soil evenly moist during establishment and watering during drought for best bloom.
• USDA Zones: Zones 4 to 8.
• Mature Size: About 18 to 20 inches tall in bloom and about 20 to 24 inches wide.
• Habit: Upright, clump-forming, and well-branched in bloom.

Ideal Uses

• Focal Point: Plant a tight drift in the middle of a sunny border so the purple flower spikes become a clear seasonal highlight.
• Mixed Perennial Borders: Weave it among mounding plants to add vertical rhythm and a cleaner, more designed look.
• Pollinator Gardens: Use where you want steady summer activity from bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds.
• Cut Flower Gardens: Grow in small groups for easy harvesting of straight stems for simple arrangements.
• Border Edges: Place along the front to mid border where the compact clump stays tidy and predictable.
• Mass Planting: Repeat in clusters to create a stronger block of color that reads well from a distance.

Low Maintenance Care

• Deadheading: Trim spent spikes after each flush to extend bloom and keep the plant looking sharp.
• Watering: Water during extended dry periods to maintain steady flowering and reduce stress in full sun.
• Soil Drainage: Improve drainage in heavier soils to help crowns stay healthy over winter.
• Cutback: Cut stems back in late fall or in early spring before new growth begins.
• Division: Divide clumps every few years if vigor declines or if you want to expand the planting.

Why Choose Very Van Gogh Spike Speedwell?

• Extended Summer Bloom: Branching flower spikes help keep color going from mid to late summer.
• Vertical Structure: Upright spikes add clean height without taking up much space.
• Pollinator Value: Flowers support beneficial visitors and keep borders lively during peak season.
• Easy Mixing: Bright green foliage and purple bloom pair well with grasses and summer perennials.
• Deer Tolerance: It is often browsed less than many soft-leaved perennials in mixed plantings.

If you want dependable summer color with a crisp, upright look, Very Van Gogh Spike Speedwell is a strong choice. Give it sun, consistent moisture, and good drainage, then deadhead to keep fresh spikes coming. Planted in groups, it creates a polished rhythm that makes borders feel intentional through the warm season.