Product Description
Veronica 'Blue Skywalker' PP29406 (25) Bare Root Plants
Common Name: Spike Speedwell
The popular trend in the perennial market is offering smaller plants to fit into the increasingly common city garden. ‘Blue Skywalker’ solves the dilemma of limited horizontal space while still providing the much needed height in the garden. Lavender blue flower spikes cover the top half of an incredibly upright habit of dark green leaves. Although it’s taller than you’d expect from a Veronica, this plant still features a full, dense habit.
Veronica is highly valued for its ease of growth and long bloom time. The spiky flowers are an excellent contrast to the more common rounded flower shapes like Shasta Daisies, Coneflower, and Black Eyed Susans. Expect bees to be buzzing about this plant when in bloom.
This perennial is tolerant of a wide range of well-drained soil types. Amending soils, especially very heavy and light types, with generous amounts of organic matter will result in improved performance. Although tolerant of partial shade, it will flower better in full sun. Deadheading will promote additional blooms. Shear back the foliage if it becomes worn-looking after flowering.
Height: 28.0-30.0 Inches
Spread: 18.0-20.0 Inches
Hardiness Zones: 4,5,6,7,8
Flower Color: Blue shades
Foliage Color: Green shades
Full Sun (> 6 hrs. Direct Sun) - Part Shade (4-6 hrs. Direct Sun)
Average to Consistent Water Needs
Average to Fertile Soil Quality
Bloomtime: Midsummer - Late Summer, Long Blooming
Attracts Butterflies and Hummingbirds
Bee Friendly
Deer Resistant
Growth Rate: Medium
Border Plant, Container, Cut Flower, Cut Foliage, Drought Tolerant, Easy To Grow, Mass Planting, Salt Tolerant
Veronica 'Blue Skywalker' is a stunning perennial with tall spikes of lavender-blue flowers that bloom from mid to late summer . It is an excellent choice for gardeners who want to add height and visual interest to their gardens, especially those with limited space. This article will explore Veronica 'Blue Skywalker', including its characteristics, ideal growing conditions, care and maintenance, and potential uses.
Veronica 'Blue Skywalker' is a bushy, upright, clump-forming perennial that typically grows 28-30 inches tall and 18-20 inches wide . It has an attractive, rounded habit and is known for its long blooming period. The lavender-blue flower spikes bloom from late spring through early summer , opening from the base upward to create a captivating display for weeks . These vibrant spikes cover the top half of the plant, contrasting beautifully with the dark green foliage . The foliage consists of lance-shaped, medium green leaves that form a healthy mound beneath the flower spikes.
This cultivar is a perfect choice if you need height in a small space in the sun garden . While it is taller than some other Veronica spicata varieties, it still features a full, dense habit . This makes it ideal for adding vertical interest without taking up too much horizontal space. 'Blue Skywalker' has an average growth rate , so you can expect to see it reach its mature size in a reasonable amount of time.
One of the appealing characteristics of Veronica 'Blue Skywalker' is its ability to attract pollinators. It is attractive to butterflies and hummingbirds , bringing life and movement to your garden. Additionally, it is deer-resistant , making it a great choice for gardens where deer are a problem.
Ideal Growing Conditions Veronica 'Blue Skywalker' thrives in full sun and average, medium moisture, well-drained soils . While it can tolerate partial shade, it will flower better in full sun . This plant is tolerant of a wide range of well-drained soil types, including chalk, clay, loam, and sand . Amending the soil with organic matter can improve performance, especially in heavy or light soil types . It is hardy in zones 4-8 , making it suitable for a variety of climates.
Gardeners in coastal areas will be pleased to know that Veronica 'Blue Skywalker' is also tolerant of salt . This makes it a good choice for gardens near the coast, where salt spray can be a problem for other plants.
Care and Maintenance Veronica 'Blue Skywalker' is a low-maintenance plant that requires minimal care . This is a significant advantage for busy gardeners who do not have a lot of time to spend on upkeep. To encourage additional blooms, remove spent flowers regularly . To keep tidy plants, shear back the foliage by half after flowering . If not cut back in summer, prune down to basal growth in late autumn . It is also beneficial to divide the plant every 3 years in spring or fall to maintain its vigor.
Potential Uses Veronica 'Blue Skywalker' is a versatile plant with various potential uses in the garden. It is an excellent choice for borders, cottage gardens, or containers . Its tall, spiky flowers make it a great addition to the middle of the border, where it can add vertical interest and contrast with other plants . It is also well-suited for containers, where it can create a charming focal point.
This Veronica is also exceptional as a cut flower . The long, elegant flower spikes add a touch of sophistication to any bouquet.
Veronica 'Blue Skywalker' is a beautiful and versatile perennial that is a great addition to any garden. Its striking lavender-blue flower spikes, long blooming period, and low-maintenance nature make it a popular choice for gardeners of all levels. Whether used in borders, containers, or as cut flowers, Veronica 'Blue Skywalker' is sure to add a touch of elegance and charm to any landscape. If you are looking for a reliable and eye-catching plant to enhance your garden, consider adding Veronica 'Blue Skywalker' to your collection. You will not be disappointed!
Other Details
The most important part of the plant is its root system. Healthy roots are the foundation of a healthy, vibrant plant. The type of plug container used is based on the specific needs of the plants. Perennials offered as bare root traditionally perform better when planted as bare root.Planted in a specialized mix, potted plants have well established root systems. Top growth stage will vary depending on the current life cycle and time of year when shipped. In Winter and early Spring dormant plants may be shipped. Dormant plants may be planted right away, even before the last frost date.
Most bare root varieties are field grown for at least one season, though Hemerocallis and Hosta are grown for two seasons. The bulk of the soil is removed during the harvesting process and the tops of most varieties are trimmed back to the crown. They are graded, packed in shredded aspen or sphagnum moss and stored in freezers until ready to be shipped.
See our Container Sizes and Bare Root Perennials pages for more information.
Plant information and care is provided in the Overview section, Plant Genus Page and general information is provided in the Planting Care & Guides. Additional questions can be asked on each Plant page.
Plant Spacing: Using the maximum mature spread or width of a plant to guide spacing, ensures space to grow to full size. To fill an area sooner, plant them closer together. Just remember, future thinning or transplanting may be needed.
Water: Keep a close eye on newly planted perennials, especially throughout the first growing year. Most early plant loss is due to too much or too little water!
