Veronica longifolia First Lady

Veronica longifolia 'First Lady' is a medium-sized cultivar of Long-leaved Speedwell from the First series, which also includes 'First Glory', 'First Match', and 'First Love'. This series is characterized by compact and floriferous, long-flowering varieties. The flower spikes of 'First Lady' are white, short and thick, dense and numerous between June and September. This spectacular, upright and sculptural perennial enlivens borders with erect spikes that attract pollinators. It is moist soil plant, ideal for water edges or in borders with moist soil, in sun or partial shade.

Veronica longifolia is a herbaceous plant of the Plantaginaceae family, found in northern and central Europe and Asia. It forms quite large with erect stems, sometimes over 1 m (3ft) in the wild. 'First Lady' is a smaller, highly floriferous form that reaches 50 to 60 cm (20 to 24in) high and 60 cm (24in) wide, with an upright bushy habit. Its deciduous leaves can be opposite, but are often whorled in groups of three or four. Fairly narrow and lanceolate with short petioles, their blades are deeply toothed, dark green tinged with silver, 10-12 cm (4-5in) long. It flowers between June and September with very dense racemes (clusters), resembling narrow spikes, with tightly packed tiny, tubular, white flowers with four petals and two prominent stamens. The flowers are nectar-rich and attractive to bees, followed heart-shaped capsules. The deciduous vegetation emerges in spring and withers in autumn.

This hardy speedwell loves bright exposures and rich, moist soil. It blends well with lots of plants and creates magnificent summer compositions, on the banks of a pond. Plant it alongside eupatoriums, meadowsweets, Purple Loosestrife or Filipendula rubra 'Venusta' . In a wilder style, in the middle of a border, this elegant perennial is very successful in combination with tall grasses: Miscanthus, Panicum, Stipa. A planting with old roses, such as Felicia or Cornelia for example, is very elegant.