The veronica flower is one that captivates the attention of everyone at first glance. The flower is best described as a standard cottage garden flower that is very popular for its spires of blue, pink or white flowers that bloom in summer. Most gardeners have the opinion that it has a blue color that is unique to other flowers that are blue colored. Veronica is not just a plant for decoration; it also has medicinal uses.

Do you want to know more about Veronica flowers?  Do you want to learn how to plant a Veronica? Here, we share the following;

* What are Veronica flowers?

* How to plant Veronica flowers

* Health benefit of Veronica

* Pests and diseases that affect Veronica

* Varieties of Veronica

What are Veronica Flowers?

Veronica flowers give your garden a long-lasting bloom, and they are easy to maintain once they’ve grown. It has one of the widest genera amongst the flowering plant Plantaginaceae. This species of the plant are quite common because they are easy to grow, and are both annual and perennial.

The veronica flowers start shooting out from the plant in the early summer, and in some cases, it continues flowering for a very long time all through autumn. Veronica flowers come in various colors ranging from blue, pink, white, and more. These flowers blossom at nearly all environmental conditions, making it one of the most-rugged flowers out there.

How to Plant Veronica Flowers?

Veronica flowers thrive well in a wide range of environmental conditions, from partial shade to a sunny environment. It can also survive in all kinds of soil. However, it thrives better if you plant it in well-drained soil and a sunny environment.

Veronica flowers survive in any PH level; it only grows at its optimum rate in neutral to moist environments.

Although veronica can grow in any soil condition, experts have the opinion that it thrives best when the soil is loosened before planting.

Here’s a step by step guide on how to plant veronica flowers;

  1. Choose a sunny area and soil that is properly drained
  2. Before you dig the hole where you want to plant your flower, you should first loosen the soil and add compost; this helps to condition the soil to create a perfect environment for its optimum growth.
  3. Add enough water to the plant; you can add an aeration tube to assist you with that. They must get enough water when the plants are young because they require lots of water at their tender age, but when they grow older, they are immune to droughts up to a certain level.
  4. Veronica plants, especially those that are perennial and woody, often occupy a lot of space. As such, It is better if veronica flowers are grown at a distance of 3 feet apart.

Health Benefits of Veronica

Although just a little scientific research has been done on the health benefit of veronica flowers but based on anecdotal and traditional evidence.

Some of its health benefits are;

  1. Anti-oxidant properties-: The flowers are known by some to contain anti-oxidant properties, which protect the body against free-radicals that cause some diseases.
  2. Anti-inflammatory benefits-: A highly acknowledged research project carried out in 2013 shows that veronica plants contain a high dose of anti-inflammatory properties, which can help to relieve pains from rheumatoid arthritis and other internal inflammation
  3. Digestive Health -: The veronica plant contains specific nutrients and chemicals that aids in stimulating the proper functioning of the digestive system. It also reduces diarrhea by reducing how mucus is secreted in your small intestine.
  4. Respiratory Health-: it is a traditional remedy for cough that has been used for over a hundred years. It helps to clear up the respiratory tract and improves breathing. It also has some properties that can reduce inflammation of the digestive tract.

Pests and Diseases that Affect Veronica Flowers

Veronica hardly has significant pests and disease problems, in fact, the most common problem with Veronica occurs when you overwater the plant; this causes edema which can prevent the root from having access to a proper oxygen supply.

One disease that affects veronica flowers is powdery mildew; this is a fungal infection that is common to many types of plants. Powdery mildew can only affect veronica flowers in areas that continuously experience hot weather. The most common symptom of mildew is a white growth that appears all over the plant. Although powdery mildew does not kill the plant, it makes veronica flowers look very unattractive.

Spider mites can attack veronica flowers by feeding on them. They leave veronica flowers with colored spots on its body, and if the attack continues, it can totally discolor the flower, which makes them lose their purpose if it is planted for beautification. Chase away spider mites by spraying the veronica flowers with an approved insecticide; do this on multiple occasions provided that you adequately space when you apply the chemical.

You also need to look out for deer, although deer don’t usually eat veronica, if they can’t find anything else, they can eat these.

When applying an Insecticide, ensure that you stick to the right dosage. Also, some herbicides that you can do include sulfur, thiophanatemethyl, and potassium bicarbonate, if you have a weed issue.

Varieties of Veronica

Here are some variations of veronica flowers;

Goodness Grows: this variety of veronica flowers is compact, its color is deep blue. It can only grow to a height of 8-12 inches

Red Fox: It rises until it reaches a height of about 12 inches and has pink flowers

Sunny Border Blue: The flowers are deep blue in color, and they can grow as far as 20 inches high.

Dick’s Wine: if you love flowers that are not more than 9 inches, then this appeals best to your kind. It is a prostrate ground cover with rose flowers.

True Love: It last longer than it varieties,

Icicle: It is an unusual looking flower that can rise as high as 18 inches.