Product Description
Veronica 'Purple Leia' PP34278 (25) Bare Root Plants
Common Name: Spike Speedwell
'Purple Leia' joins popular companions 'Blue Skywalker' and 'Lavender Lightsaber' except with rosy purple flowers covering the top half of a columnar, upright habit. Bucking the trend of smaller and more compact plants, 'Lavender Lightsaber' fills a need of adding height to the middle of the border. Try this perennial in narrow spaces needing height, such as small city gardens or narrow borders.
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: Purple shades
Foliage Color: Green shades
Full Sun to Part Shade
Average to Consistent Water Needs
Average to Fertile Soil Quality
Bloomtime: Early Summer to Midsummer
Long Blooming
Attracts Butterflies and Hummingbirds
Bee Friendly
Deer Resistant
Growth Rate: Medium
Border Plant, Cut Flower, Cut Foliage, Drought Tolerant, Easy To Grow, Mass Planting, Salt Tolerant
Veronica 'Purple Leia' is a striking and versatile perennial that adds a vertical element of rosy purple blooms to gardens. It is a standout selection for its unique color, upright habit, and ability to thrive in various conditions. Here is a closer look at what makes it special:
Appearance:
- Flowers: 'Purple Leia' boasts tall, slender spikes densely packed with rosy purple flowers. These vibrant blossoms cover the upper half of the plant, creating a captivating display of color.
- Foliage: The plant has lance-shaped, dark green leaves that form a neat and compact base for the flower spikes.
Growing Conditions:
- Light: While it tolerates partial shade, 'Purple Leia' thrives in full sun (at least 6 hours of direct sunlight) for optimal flowering and a more robust growth habit.
- Soil: Adaptable to a wide range of well-drained soils. Amending heavy clay or sandy soils with organic matter improves drainage and overall plant performance.
- Water: Prefers consistent moisture, especially during the establishment period. Once established, it has moderate drought tolerance.
Characteristics:
- Mature Size: Reaches a height of 28-30 inches with a spread of 18-20 inches, forming an upright and columnar clump.
- Hardiness Zones: Suitable for USDA hardiness zones 4-8, making it a versatile choice for various climates.
- Bloom Time: Blooms from early summer to midsummer, providing a long-lasting display of color. Deadheading spent flowers can encourage additional blooms and maintain a tidy appearance.
Why it is Popular:
- Unique Color: The rosy purple flowers of 'Purple Leia' are a standout in the garden, offering a unique hue that complements a wide range of color palettes.
- Upright Habit: Its columnar growth habit adds vertical interest and structure to garden beds and borders, making it an excellent choice for smaller spaces or narrow borders.
- Low Maintenance: 'Purple Leia' is relatively low-maintenance, requiring minimal care once established.
- Pollinator-Friendly: The flowers attract pollinators like bees and butterflies, contributing to a healthy garden ecosystem.
- Versatile: It can be used in various garden settings, including borders, cottage gardens, and even containers.
Uses:
- Borders: Adds vertical interest and vibrant color to garden borders.
- Cottage Gardens: Its informal and colorful blooms blend seamlessly into cottage garden settings.
- Containers: Suitable for container gardening, where its upright habit can be displayed on patios or balconies.
- Cut Flowers: The long-lasting flowers can be used in fresh or dried arrangements.
Additional Information:
- 'Purple Leia' is part of a series of Star Wars-themed Veronica introductions, including 'Blue Skywalker' and 'Lavender Lightsaber'.
- It is a good companion plant for other perennials with contrasting flower shapes and colors, such as Shasta Daisies, Coneflowers, and Black-Eyed Susans.
- Deadheading spent flowers not only promotes reblooming but also prevents self-seeding.
- Dividing clumps every few years helps maintain plant vigor and prevents overcrowding.
Overall, Veronica 'Purple Leia' is a fantastic choice for gardeners seeking a vibrant, low-maintenance, and versatile perennial with a unique color and upright habit. Its adaptability, long bloom time, and pollinator-friendly nature make it a valuable addition to any garden, bringing joy and beauty throughout the summer months.
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!
