Veronica (plant): description, cultivars, cultivation, photo

Charming and delicate flowers of Veronica are able to decorate any flower bed or flower, decorate a fruit garden. Numerous shades of its petals range from sky-blue to a saturated blue color. Veronica - a plant, the cultivation of which does not require much effort and time. Virtually all garden forms are natural species, very resistant to cold and with good rates of survival. So why not try them on your site?

Rod Veronica: description

This genus is the most numerous (about 500 species) among the family Podorozhnikovye. It includes annual and perennial herbaceous plants, less often semi-shrubs, which are common in all parts of the world, but mainly in temperate and cold regions of Eurasia. Representatives of the genus are widespread in the territory of our country.

Any veronica is a plant (photo attached) with characteristic generic characters. The first of these is small flowers with two stamens, which are collected in paniculate, spicate or umbellate inflorescences (sessile or on a long peduncle). The second - thick rhizomes, shortened or branched, or a lot of thin roots. Among the numerous representatives there are excellent melliferous plants, medicinal plants, as well as ornamental plants. It is the latter that we will pay more attention.

It should be noted that Veronica is a plant, although it does not possess outstanding external characteristics, but beautiful with its simplicity. Small flowers can rise above a flower bed collected in a harmonious ear, or almost to spread a soft "pillow", braiding all around. We suggest that you learn about the main types of veronics introduced into the culture.

Veronika the Armenian

The low plant (7-10 cm) is bright green, forming a dense and dense sod. Stems ascending or recumbent, at the base rusty. Decorative features include, among others, leaves 08-1.2 cm long, pinnately dissected at the base into thin and twisting lobes. The corolla of the flower is pale blue or with a lilac shade with a rich aroma. Rose pink variety. Armenian veronica - the plant is very drought-resistant, unpretentious, and in this connection it is popular with florists when decorating lawns, alpine hills, terraces. Flowering begins in the middle of summer. The species is very sensitive to soil. Only stony substrates with an alkaline medium and a small amount of river sand or fertilized clay are acceptable.

Veronica Austrian

Perennial plant with high erect stems from 30 to 70 cm, small leaves and star - shaped bright blue flowers collected in a brush. Flowering is long, begins from May-June. Drought-resistant, decorative, widely used for the design of rock gardens, rockeries, in group and single plantings. The natural habitat is steppe and forest-steppe, mountain meadows and stony hills. Soil prefers well drained, sandy.

Veronica big

A species widely distributed in the natural environment: the entire European part of Russia, the Caucasus, Western Siberia, the Mediterranean, Central Asia. It grows in sparse forest plantations, in meadows and fields. This veronica is a plant (photo above) with an impressive garden history. In culture it was introduced in 1596. The species is characterized by the formation of dense bushes, from which on the long stem (up to 30 cm) come out peduncles with asterisks of flowers of a blue hue of varying degrees of saturation. Very unpretentious plant, characterized by high winter hardiness (does not require shelter) and drought resistance. It grows well on any garden soils, prefers sunny places and is hygrophilous. Use it in group and single plantings, it is suitable for cutting into bouquets. Different varieties are distinguished, differing in size of the bush, color, color of the leaves. In particular, True Blue is a tall Veronica (blue). The plant (photo attached) has inflorescences up to 10 cm long, the flowering period is a month from the end of May. An unusual sort of Miffy Blue grows into a spectacular shrub with motley decorative leaves and large pale blue inflorescences.

Veronica Gentian

In the natural environment it grows in the southern and middle regions of the European part of Russia, in the Caucasus and in the Crimea, in Asia Minor. It is a herbaceous plant, forming beautiful pillow-shaped shrubs up to 45 cm high. The leaves are collected in a rosette, dark green, leathery. Inflorescence on high shoot (30-70 cm), loose, multiflorous. The color of the corolla is pale blue, often in the direction of the white tone with clear blue veins. The flowers are large, reaching a diameter of 1 cm. Flowering begins in June and lasts for a month, but its ornamentality remains until the frost. Gentian Veronica - a plant introduced into the culture of horticulture since 1784, during this time many varieties were bred. Among them, Variegata with fringed white stripe leaves, Tissington White with almost white flowers, etc. Veronica is absolutely unpretentious, hygrophilous, but drought-resistant, shade-tolerant, but prefers well-lit places, shelter for the winter is not required.

Veronica spikelet

One of the most decorative species with a large number of bred varieties. The plant is up to 40 cm high with a few solitary stems. Particularly beautiful are the apical racemose dense inflorescences of saturated blue, blue, purple hues, rarely white. In culture, the species was introduced in 1570. Flowering lasts from the middle of summer, gives a lot of seeds, multiplies well by self-seeding. For its cultivation any garden soil will do. Spike Veronica - the plant is winter-hardy, drought-resistant, light and hygrophilous. Particularly good looks in single plantings. Examples of varieties: Romiley Purple (saturated purple), Barcarolle (pink), Heidekind (crimson-pink), Rotfishs (cream), White Icicle (white, in the photo).

Veronica small

Highly decorative species, exacting to growing conditions. It is subendemic and grows in nature only on volcanic soils. Forms dense cushions with dark green leaves, entirely covered with small blue flowers of pure shade and with a delicate aroma. In the garden, reproduction is possible only by dividing the rhizome. Veronica shallow requires nutritious soil, but in the absence of organic, constant moderate moisturizing and good lighting (sunny places) are needed.

Veronica officinalis plant

This species has several advantages at once: decorative and useful. The plant is perennial, with creeping stems, which take root in the nodes. Expands quickly - up to 20 cm per season, so you can use as a ground cover type. The flowers are collected in small brushes, a pale-lilac shade. Flowering lasts from June to September. Mainly used as a decorative-deciduous plant. Resistant to trampling, drought, frost, shade-tolerant, competitive. A high degree of expansion should be considered when choosing a site for planting. In folk medicine, Veronica officinalis is used mainly as an expectorant for bronchial asthma, bronchitis in the form of infusions, decoctions, tea.

Peculiarities of growing

Veronica - a plant (description - above), or rather an entire genus with numerous representatives, with unpretentious character. Exceptions are only a few varieties. Care is absolutely simple. The plant is undemanding to soils, light factor, neighborhood with other species. If you decide to grow it on your flower beds, then it's worth paying attention to a few key points.

• When preparing the substrate for planting, pay attention to the variety that you plant, and, depending on it, supplement it with the necessary components, for example for hair and rubbly - gravel.
• A high degree of drought resistance does not mean that you do not need to water. On the contrary, most species prefer moderate hydration.
• Cut the withered inflorescences, so you will preserve the decorative appearance of the bush longer and, perhaps, achieve a second flowering.