2 named cultivars

perennial

Caucasian Speedwell

Veronica peduncularis

The Story

Plant Bio

Veronica peduncularis, Caucasian speedwell, is a low spreading broadleaf evergreen perennial from the Caucasus, four to twelve inches high and about as wide. Small glossy leaves flush deep bronze-purple in cold weather, and sheets of small saucer-shaped blue flowers with white eyes open over the mat in spring and early summer.

It flowers heavily for weeks in spring, then earns its place through winter, when the foliage turns rich bronze-purple in cold weather rather than dying back. Sharp drainage is the one requirement it will not bend on — like most speedwells it rots quickly in heavy or winter-wet ground.

Uses & Benefits:

Sheets of blue white-eyed flowers in spring, then bronze-purple evergreen foliage through winter.

Evergreen and low enough for wall tops and troughs, and needs almost nothing once established.

Butterflies and other pollinators work the massed spring flowers.

Essentials

At a Glance

Plant Type

Perennial

Height

6 inches

Width

8 inches

Light

Full Sun, Partial Sun

Zones

4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9

Water

Low

Humidity

Low

Lifespan

Perennial

Native To

The Caucasus

Toxicity

Non-toxic

Planting

How to Grow

Plant in full sun or partial shade.
Give it sharply drained soil, ideally gritty.
Space plants closely for a continuous mat.
Water while establishing, then only in drought.
Shear lightly after flowering to keep it dense.
Divide congested clumps in spring.

Pro Tip

The bronze-purple winter colour needs cold to develop, so a sheltered warm corner gives you plain green foliage instead.

Keep It Thriving

Care Guide

Do

Give it sharply drained soil 🌱
Shear lightly after flowering ✂️
Site it where winter colour shows ❄️
Divide congested clumps in spring 🔁

Don't

Plant it in heavy or wet ground ❌
Let it sit under winter mulch ❌
Feed it richly ❌

Seasonal Care Calendar

Task	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Divide
Shear

Watch Out For

Pests & Diseases

Common Pests

Common Diseases

In the Garden

Landscape Uses & Companions

Landscape Uses

Rock garden and gravel plantingFront-of-border edging and path sidesWall tops and containers

Companion Plants

Creeping Thyme Dianthus Sedum CampanulaHardy Geranium

Multiply

Propagation Methods

Good to Know

Common Questions

Caucasian Speedwell questions

What zones can Caucasian Speedwell grow in?

Caucasian Speedwell is hardy in USDA Zones 4–9. Inside that range it survives winter in the ground; outside it, grow it as an annual or a container plant you protect.

Is Caucasian Speedwell deer resistant?

Yes — Caucasian Speedwell is rated deer-resistant. Deer typically pass it over, though extreme hunger can override any plant's defenses.

When does Caucasian Speedwell bloom?

Caucasian Speedwell typically blooms in spring to early summer through late spring. Exact timing shifts a week or two with your zone — Sow's bloom calendar maps it to your garden.

Does Caucasian Speedwell need full sun?

Caucasian Speedwell does best in full sun to part shade. In hot climates, afternoon shade keeps blooms fresher longer.

Is Caucasian Speedwell drought tolerant?

Yes — once established (usually after the first full season), Caucasian Speedwell handles dry spells with minimal watering. Water deeply its first year to build the root system that makes that possible.