Veronica austriaca Royal Blue

Veronica austriaca 'Royal Blue' is a bushy and compact variety of Austrian speedwell, with a beautiful royal blue flowering in early summer. Its small flowers are tightly packed on numerous elongated spikes emerging from elongated and dentate dark green foliage. This deciduous and perfectly hardy perennial adapts to all well-drained soils, but prefers a sunny exposure. A lovely carefree plant, perfect for rockeries, borders, and informal flower beds.

Veronica austriaca, also known as Veronica teucrium or Germander speedwell, is a small woody perennial plant of the Plantaginaceae family. It is native to temperate areas of central and southern Europe, but also widespread in western Asia. 

The 'Royal Blue' selection stands out for its particularly intense royal blue flowering. It develops by forming numerous branches, initially lying down and quickly straightening up, reaching about 40cm (16in) in all directions. Its stems bear small, bright green, ovate-elongated, deciduous leaves with toothed edges, somewhat resembling those of Teucrium chamaedrys (germander shrub). From June to August, it produces deep blue flowers measuring 1 to 2cm (1in) in diameter, arranged in thin clusters 10 to 18cm (4 to 7in) long at the ends of the stems. The flowers first bloom at the base of the spikes and then gradually open up to the top of the inflorescence.

Veronica austriaca 'Royal Blue' is a lovely bushy variety for any good well-drained soil, even rocky and limestone. Plant in full sun in cool climates or partial shade in warm ones. Note that in full sun, the soil must not lack moisture. It will look beautiful along a pathway, planted en masse with a border of lady's mantle or silver basket, or in a semi-shaded rockery with small chamomiles (Chamaemelum nobile, Anthemis tinctoria, Anthemis cretica), or to form a border in a flower bed, in the company of Rhodanthemum hosmariense (in not too cold climates), Antennaria dioica Rubra, Pasque flower, or perennial bloody cranesbill.

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