Garden speedwell 'Marietta' Veronica longifolia 'Marietta' (PBR)

Water

Speedwell 'Marietta' prefers consistent moisture, but you should avoid overwatering to prevent root rot. Water thoroughly when the top inch of soil feels dry, generally about once a week. During hotter, drier periods, you may need to water more frequently, possibly twice a week. Use about 1 gallon of water per plant for each watering session, ensuring the water reaches deep into the root zone. During the winter or in cooler temperatures, reduce watering to prevent soggy soil.

Light

Speedwell 'Marietta' flourishes best in full sun conditions, receiving at least 6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight each day. A spot that offers bright, unfiltered sunlight will optimize its blooming potential and help maintain healthy growth. While it can tolerate some light shade, too much shading can lead to leggy stems and fewer flowers.

Temperature

Speedwell 'Marietta' is quite hardy and can survive in a temperature range between 35°F and 85°F. It ideally thrives in temperatures between 60°F to 75°F, which allows for optimal growth and flowering. Extreme temperatures below 35°F can damage the plant, whereas temperatures above 85°F may stress it, necessitating additional watering to keep it cool.

Pruning

Prune Speedwell 'Marietta' to maintain its shape, remove spent blooms, and encourage additional flowering. Immediately after the first bloom cycle, cut back about one-third of the plant's height to stimulate a second flowering. Pruning is best done in late winter or early spring before new growth begins.

Cleaning

As needed

Soil

Speedwell 'Marietta' thrives in well-draining soil enriched with compost or organic matter, maintaining a slightly acidic to neutral pH range between 5.8 and 7.2 to optimize growth and flowering.

Repotting

Speedwell 'Marietta' should be repotted every 2-3 years to refresh the soil and accommodate root growth, ensuring the continued health and vigor of the plant.

Humidity & Misting

Speedwell 'Marietta' prefers average humidity levels and can tolerate some variations, making it suitable for most garden environments without requiring special humidity adjustments.

Suitable locations

• Indoor

  Place in bright, indirect light with well-draining soil.

• Outdoor

  Plant in full sun to partial shade in fertile soil.

• Hardiness zone

  4-8 USDA

Life cycle

Veronica longifolia 'Marietta' (PBR), commonly known as the long-leaf speedwell, begins its life cycle as a seed, which germinates in moist soil conditions in early spring. Once the seed sprouts, it develops into a seedling, displaying its first pair of true leaves. As it matures during the growing season, the plant forms a clump with elongated, lance-shaped leaves and starts to produce tall flower spikes with numerous small, violet-blue flowers typically by mid-summer. Throughout its flowering phase, which lasts until late summer, it attracts various pollinators essential for its reproduction. After pollination, the flowers develop into small capsule-like fruits, containing tiny seeds that disperse into the surrounding soil, ready to initiate a new cycle when conditions are favorable. The long-leaf speedwell is a perennial, so as winter approaches, the plant will die back to the ground and enter a period of dormancy, emerging again with fresh growth the following spring.

Propogation

• Propogation time

  Spring-Early Summer

• Propogation: Veronica longifolia 'Marietta', commonly known as long-leaf speedwell 'Marietta', is typically propagated by division, a method that is both popular and straightforward due to the plant's clumping growth habit. The ideal time to propagate this perennial is in early spring or after the flowering period in late summer or early fall. To divide the plant, carefully dig around the clump and lift it from the ground. Gently separate the plant into smaller sections, making sure that each section has a good amount of roots attached. Replant the divisions at the same depth they were growing originally, spacing them approximately 18 inches (about 45 centimeters) apart to allow for sufficient room to grow. Water the new divisions thoroughly to help establish their roots in the garden. This simple method maintains the health and vigor of the plant and also helps to keep it from becoming too overcrowded.