Dark Blue Speedwell

Dark Blue Speedwell (Veronica spicata 'Novaverblu')

Dark Blue Speedwell is a compact perennial that delivers rich blue flower spikes for a long stretch of the warm season. Its tidy size makes it easy to use in borders and containers where you want strong color without a plant that sprawls. The upright blooms add clean vertical structure, and they bring steady pollinator activity into the garden. With sun, drainage, and an occasional trim, it stays neat and keeps producing flowers.

Distinctive Features

This selection forms dense clumps of narrow green foliage topped with upright spikes of purple-blue to deep blue-violet flowers. Bloom typically begins in early summer and can continue well into late summer and fall, especially when spent spikes are removed. The habit is compact and clump-forming, so it reads as a crisp accent in mixed plantings rather than a loose filler. Flower spikes also cut well, giving you a simple way to bring its strong color indoors.

Growing Conditions

• Sun: Full sun for the best flowering and strongest stems, with part sun tolerated.
• Soil: Well-drained soil with average fertility, and avoid sites that stay wet.
• Water: Moderate water, keeping moisture consistent during bloom and watering during drought for best performance.
• USDA Zones: Zones 4 to 8.
• Mature Size: About 12 to 14 inches tall and about 12 to 14 inches wide.
• Notable Traits: Attractive to butterflies and other pollinators, and often deer resistant.

Ideal Uses

• Focal Point: Plant a tight drift near the front of a sunny bed so the deep blue flower spikes create a crisp seasonal highlight.
• Border Front: Use along paths and bed edges for tidy, upright color that stays out of walkways.
• Containers: Grow in pots where the compact habit stays balanced and the spikes read cleanly.
• Pollinator Plantings: Add to sunny beds to support beneficial visitors through the bloom season.
• Cut Flower Gardens: Plant in small groups for easy cutting and clean, vertical stems in arrangements.
• Mass Planting: Repeat in clusters to create a stronger block of blue and a more designed look.

Low Maintenance Care

• Deadheading: Trim spent spikes after each flush to encourage more bloom and keep the plant tidy.
• Watering: Water during dry spells to maintain steady flowering and reduce stress in full sun.
• Soil Drainage: Keep crowns out of soggy soil to support longevity and cleaner growth.
• Cutback: Cut stems back in late fall or in early spring before new growth begins.
• Division: Divide clumps every few years if the center thins or if you want to expand the planting.

Why Choose Dark Blue Speedwell?

• Rich Blue Color: Delivers some of the deeper blue tones you can count on in sunny perennial beds.
• Long Bloom Window: Keeps producing spikes across summer and can continue into fall with simple deadheading.
• Compact Habit: Stays tidy and clump-forming, making it easy to place in tight spaces.
• Pollinator Value: Flower spikes attract butterflies and other beneficial visitors.
• Garden Versatility: Works equally well in borders, containers, and cutting beds for repeatable seasonal impact.

If you want dependable blue color in a compact, easy-to-place plant, Dark Blue Speedwell is a strong choice. Give it full sun, well-drained soil, and a quick trim after flowering, and it will keep showing up through the season. Planted in small groups, it adds structure and a clear color note that makes mixed borders feel more intentional.