Veronica spicata Alba

Veronica spicata 'Alba' is a white form of spiked speedwell, a vigorous European perennial. It is very hardy and undemanding. The plant forms a compact and graceful clump, which produces long spikes of upright clusters in summer, covered in small pure white star-shaped flowers, resembling silver candles. Its hairy foliage spreads thanks to a strong creeping stump. It thrives in sunny borders, embankments, and rockeries, in well-drained limestone soil.

Spiked speedwell is a perennial plant of the Plantaginaceae family, formerly classified in the figwort family. It is mainly found in mountainous regions, up to 2050m (6726ft) in altitude, less commonly in plains. It can be found growing in meadows, dry grasslands, rocky slopes, and at the edge of forests, usually in limestone soil. The 'Alba' form shows dense and vigorous vegetation, 30 to 45cm (12 to 18in) tall, spreading up to 1m (3ft) in diameter from its powerful semi-woody stump. Its hairy stems are branched in the upper part and bear deciduous to semi-evergreen ovate to linear leaves with a beautiful dark green to greyish reflective colour and finely toothed edges. From July to August, and sometimes until September, it produces tiny star-shaped flowers at the ends of floral stems, gathered in dense and upright spikes, reaching a height of 60cm (24in). This flowering is honey-producing and nectar-producing. The plant self-seeds spontaneously in the garden, in light soil.

'Alba' will thrive in any well-drained soil, even rocky and limestone soil, preferably in full sun. It is particularly suitable for a mountain garden with rocky soil. While it prefers some moisture at its base, it will tolerate drought fairly well once established. This perennial will be very useful for dressing the base of shrub roses or in a raised bed, on an embankment, or in a rockery, alongside echinaceas, stipas, red shrubby salvias, Californian poppies, or lavenders. Its relatively flexible white spikes bring verticality to a low-growing mass of plants such as aubrietas, wall bellflowers, or cerastiums. It can also be grown as a standalone specimen.