Veronica media First Love

Veronica x media 'First Love' is a new compact variety of hybrid Veronica with brightly coloured and long-lasting summer flowers. Its stout spikes of densely packed spikes of tiny, rare vivid pink flowers, rise above abundant dark green foliage. This pretty perennial forms a flowery mass, covered in butterflies in borders or pots. It is very hardy and easy to grow in any deep and moist, good garden soil, in full sun or partial shade. Its flowers are perfect for cutting.

The 'First Love' Veronica is a new hybrid variety from the Plantaginaceae family whose origins are closely guarded. It is probably the result of cross-breeding with Veronica spicata or spike speedwell, a perennial plant that mainly grows in the mountains, up to 2000 metres (6562 feet) above sea level, in meadows, dry grasslands, rocky slopes and at the edge of forests, mostly on limestone soil.

The 'First Love' variety is particularly short, well-branched, and floriferous, reaching about 30 cm (12in) high and 30 to 40 cm (12 to 16in) wide. Its leaves can be opposite but are often whorled in groups of three or four. They are quite narrow and lanceolate, 6 to 12 cm (2 to 5in) long, with a short petiole, deeply toothed, dark green with a slight grey hue. It will flower from July to September (even October), if the faded flower spikes are regularly removed. The inflorescences are very dense, stout spikes, tightly packed with tiny, tubular, bright pink flowers with hints of red, composed of four petals and two protruding stamens. They are rich in nectar and attractive to many pollinators.

Veronica x media 'First Love' is a hardy plant that prefers well-drained but moist soil and will thrive in many regions, including mountain gardens. It pairs well with many plants to create beautiful summer compositions in borders, at the front of large beds, and in containers on the terrace. Plant it alongside Nepetas, Galanes, Helenias, Astilbe 'Vision in Pink', Filipendula rubra 'Venusta', and Sidalcea, for example. In a wilder style, this perennial forms a very successful combination with shorter grasses: Carex, Festuca, stipa... Its cut flowers can be used with white or red roses, hydrangeas, ranunculus or asters.