Veronica

In this article, we'll take a closer look at plants like Veronica. These are quite simple landings, but at the same time they are incredibly attractive and very cute, due to which they are popular. Veronica is especially valued for its deep blue color, and it is not so often that you can find cultures in gardens that are painted in shades of blue. Perhaps it is for this reason that plants are also valued, but still it is worth delving deeper and understanding what their advantages and disadvantages are, if we talk directly about planting and the subsequent care of Veronica.

Veronica description

The plant was named so, quite possibly in honor of a fairly common name - Veronica. Also, some breeders and biologists put forward the assumption that the name was derived from the Latin, which means "real, true medicine" (vero unika). Veronica has rather extensive medicinal properties, so it is likely that the name originated precisely from the Latin word. But be that as it may, the stress is not on the last syllable, but on the second, so perhaps it should not be confused with the name of the girls so often.

The genus of plants called Veronica is quite large, it includes more than three hundred species of plants, including plantains, which can be found in almost any part of the world, since plantains are common in Europe and Asian parts. There are also species that grow in the Mediterranean regions, because the climate there allows the plant to fully and fully reveal all its properties and potential. In our country, veronica is represented by almost 150 species, and most of them grow mainly in the regions of the Caucasus or in the European part of Russia. There are such species that feel great in Central Asia, and you can also find some species that grow quite calmly and successfully on the edges of the forest or in meadows. The species also take root well in mountainous terrain, so in general, Veronica can be planted in various conditions - they will find a suitable place for themselves everywhere, and everywhere they can perfectly adapt to the surrounding conditions.

As a rule, almost all Veronica are herbaceous plants, but semi-shrub plantings can also be found. These are perennial and perennial plants, they can look completely different, it all depends on the varietal and species belonging of the plant. These can be tall shrubs and undersized, herbaceous creeping crops, there are even creeping Veronica. The leaves can be simple, or they can be decorative, again it all depends on the variety and on the planting conditions of these plants, because, one way or another, they still need suitable conditions, and it is imperative to monitor the general condition of the plant , for its rooting, development, growth and flowering process.

The structure of the flower in Veronica is common - most often we can observe the development of a flower of medium, small size. The lower petals can grow together with each other, they form a neat tube, and the upper petals do not grow together. Inside there are two stamens and one long pistil, which are the main characters in the pollination of the plant. Inflorescences can form either cyst-like, or in the form of attractive spikelets, again, everything depends on the species and the corresponding characteristics.

Of course, you should pay special attention to the color of the flowers.Almost all types and varieties of Veronica differ precisely in that they are painted in a variety of shades of blue or blue. Sometimes you can find pale pink or snow-white flowers, but this happens very rarely, since the original feature of Veronica is its unusual blue or blue color, which is almost impossible to confuse with anything. Of course, there is a huge variety of Veronica, and we will just talk about them in this article.

Its main types and their characteristics

First, we will get acquainted with those types of Veronica, which are usually grown in gardens and personal plots in order to decorate and decorate them. These plants are distinguished by their decorative properties, and usually this is their most basic function. The first species is Veronica spikelet. It is widespread enough, since the plant develops equally well in Western Europe or in the Mediterranean, in our country, Veronica is especially well adapted to the conditions of the European part of Russia, grows calmly in Siberia or Central Asia, as well as in the Caucasus. At the same time, the plant is not particularly whimsical, and it is for this reason that many gardeners cultivate it on their plots, since the result is absolutely delightful and very elegant.

By the way, about the external characteristics of this plant - this is a low plant, up to forty centimeters, which gives a small number of strong shoots. The leaves are oval, slightly oblong forci, petioles are located on the lower leaves, but the upper leaves are more sessile. At the very tops of the stems, very thick and bright inflorescences are formed, which are in the form of tassels. Their length varies from ten to twelve centimeters, sometimes it can be even a little more if the plant grows in suitable and comfortable conditions. Flowers of this species are always colored blue or pink, purple or white. The flowering of Veronica begins in June, and lasts up to forty days, it looks very attractive, well, even a florist who does not have much experience in caring for this crop and related varieties can cope with an unpretentious plant.

Spiked veronica and in its original natural form it looked incredibly attractive. At home, in garden conditions, the plant will look even more advantageous as a single planting, but it can also be planted in a composition with other perennial plants, which will also be an excellent option. Veronica loves to grow in loose soil, while the place should be open and sufficiently sunny, the culture itself is resistant to too much frost or drought, so in general you can not worry about her at all when the plant is in the open field ... Of course, there are some subtleties in planting and caring for Veronica, but usually these procedures do not differ at all from the standard procedures for planting and further agricultural technology. So there will be no difficulties here, and even that gardener who, in general, does not have much experience in planting plants, will cope with this task.

A fairly large number of Veronica varieties have been bred, but they all differ from each other only in how their flowers are colored. For example, the white ice variety has completely snow-white flowers without any impurities, barcaroll is a variety that gives pink flowers, blue peter and blue carpet have blue flowers, while blue carpet is also a variety that gives a fairly low planting, which has a rather creeping character and is great for covering up some of the plant's imperfections. Red Fox is a variety in which the flowers are dark pink in color, the flowers of Romenli pearl are dark purple, incredibly attractive.There are a huge number of other popular varieties, but planting and caring for them completely coincide, but the choice may depend on what color the bushes the gardener wants to see on his site.

The second kind - veronica threadlike - this species is native to Europe, but rather quickly it began to be cultivated in the territories of other continents and the state. This Veronica grows mainly on mountain lawns, forming incredibly attractive and very bright natural carpets. Due to this, in principle, the plant is so valued, and it is very often used to decorate personal plots. This perennial belongs to the category of evergreen and creeping. The shoots are quite thin, they can develop very quickly, they scatter in different directions, while creating a density and abundance of bushiness. A very beautiful green rug appears, on which small rounded leaves appear over time. In the spring, the bush is covered with small pale blue flowers, which slightly rise above the green cover, and it looks very exciting - as if the flowers are floating in the air on very thin petioles. In fact, this is how the flowering of this species of Veronica looks like, and this attracts flower growers in its appearance. The beauty is simply extraordinary, but it is worth remembering that the bush feels best in slightly shaded areas, in addition, it can be planted even on depleted and very poor soils - the plant is completely unpretentious and takes root very quickly even in such situations.

True, as with any plant, some problems can also arise with this type of Veronica. it so happened that it simply fell out, and only freestanding bushes remained. This is due to the fact that the plant does not always receive the care it needs, and also sometimes experienced flower growers recommend planting filamentous Veronica in different places. Also, in the same place, bushes can die, and therefore Veronica should be transplanted periodically so that it finds a permanent and most favorable place. Veronica creeping can also grow well in one place, but in another place it can die some time after disembarkation. One way or another, even despite the fact that this type of Veronica can be slightly capricious, the growers still treat it well and always strive to keep the plant on the site, since it still differs in some special features and characteristics. You can create a huge number of carpets from Veronica, sometimes Veronica is planted under berry or ornamental shrubs, and in compositions they also look incredibly decorative and attractive.

Veronica big - one of the most widespread species. In our country, this type is found almost everywhere, you can grow it in the European part of Russia, in Western Siberia, in Central Asia or in the Caucasus - planting will feel good enough and comfortable everywhere. At the same time, the rhizome of the plant has a more creeping shape, is located superficially, so you should try very hard not to harm the root part when processing the soil, since this can be done very easily and simply. A sufficient number of straight stems grow from the rhizome, their height can be from thirty to seventy centimeters. The leaves are oblong, serrated, the flowers have a bright blue color, are in very attractive racemose inflorescences, which also adds even more decorative and interesting external qualities to the plant. Abundant flowering occurs in the spring, at which time the bush looks the most beautiful. But gradually the shoots begin to lie to the sides, the center becomes more empty, and in general the bush breaks up in different directions, so after about a few years it is recommended to plant it, and put an updated planting in place in order to preserve the decorative appearance of the shrubs. If the grower wants to preserve this bush, then it is best to carry out a garter at the very beginning of its flowering, then the bush will not disintegrate and will retain its decorative features in its most original form.After the flowering is completed, the shoots can be cut off, since new shoots will certainly appear in their place, which will be younger and more decorative.

At the same time, the plant is completely unpretentious, it responds well to good sunlight, so before planting, you should take care of choosing a place so that you do not have to transplant the plant later. Veronica is also completely unpretentious to the composition of the soil, several varieties were bred, which differ from each other in the height of the bushes. These are such varieties as Tru blue - the height of the bush is about sixty centimeters, the flowers are painted in a delicate blue tint. The second variety is called Shirley Blue - the bush barely reaches a height of half a meter, while the flowers have a dark blue color, they look very attractive and decorative in contrast, so the variety is great for using it as a decorative planting, single or group.

Veronica gray - also a common type of this plant, in particular it can often be found in the European part of our country, in Siberia or Western Europe, in the Far East. Often, gray-haired Veronica is found in China and Japan, in these countries they are very fond of her, and the plant is respected precisely for its attractive decorative properties and for the fact that it is completely unpretentious, if we talk about caring activities. The height of the bush turns out to be about forty centimeters, at first it has a rather spreading shape, and after the flowering is completed, it looks more like a rather compact pillow, and it also looks just great. The pillow is decorated with wide white or felt leaves, which are quite attractive in their appearance. The flowering of the gray-haired Veronica begins in July and lasts for 35 days, flowering is carried out by bright blue flowers, which in general are quite typical for a culture such as Veronica. The plant is also quite unpretentious, it hibernates without additional shelter, ideally, gray-haired Veronica can be planted in rocky gardens, it will look very attractive and unusual in any landscape.

Veronica gentian - this type of Veronica is most widespread in the southern and European part of our country, in the Crimea or the Caucasus. Accordingly, starting from this, we can conclude that, unlike all other species, this one is more thermophilic, respectively, and the place for landing should be such that it will be constantly illuminated or located in the warmth. When the plant grows, a rounded, slightly cushion-shaped bush forms in its place, its height is no more than 45 centimeters. Flowers of a pale blue color, collected in looser spikelets, their height is from 30 to 70 centimeters, it all depends on the type of plant, as well as on how the florist himself looked after the planting, and whether he was able to create the most favorable conditions for it. Flowering begins at the very end of May, and it lasts from two to three weeks. At this time, the plant is really pleasing to the eye and attracts a lot of attention from florists and gardeners. This is not surprising, because it is impossible to hide the decorativeness of this plant, and in fact it is one of the most attractive and versatile today. This type of Veronica also includes several varieties. For example, the Nana variety is a dwarf bush that is no more than ten centimeters high. The height of the peduncle usually varies from 20 to 30 centimeters, it all depends on the place of planting and on its role in gardening. This variety has another form of variegat - this means that the leaves have a clear white border, and in the spring the border can change its color - it becomes more pinkish than white, and it also looks quite interesting and attractive.

Veronica peduncle - this is a typical inhabitant of the Black Sea region, since it perfectly takes root in those conditions, is able to stretch, be very stately, tall and at the same time incredibly attractive. It takes root well on rocky embankments, which should be taken into account if the florist has decided to grow this species on his backyard, or to arrange any territory of his garden or flower beds with the help of a bush. This plant is perennial, semi-ampelous, forms low and very small sods. Blooming occurs with the help of blue-blue flowers, which look very interesting and attractive, while emanating from them an unobtrusive, but very pleasant and persistent aroma. Basically, gardeners use this plant to plant rockeries or to decorate rock gardens. The flowers of the plant are sometimes overly fragrant, and the plant itself is resistant to drought and unpretentious if it is cultivated. One way or another, this option sometimes seems to be one of the most suitable in this matter, and therefore the pedicled Veronica is so popular with gardeners, designers, florists.

Veronica armenian - this species came to us from the territory of Asia Minor. The plant also belongs to the Alpine species, while rather short stems are formed in it, they are also very thin, woody, drooping. But there can be a lot of such stems and shoots, due to which the plant turns out to be very rich and dense. Veronica forms an initially very dense, almost impenetrable turf, the leaves are attractive, slightly dissected. Flowering is carried out with pale blue or lilac flowers, and it usually begins from the very end of June. The plant exudes a pleasant, fresh and very fragrant aroma, resistant to temperature extremes or extreme droughts. Also, in general, it is not capricious and unpretentious, if we talk about leaving, which is also worth paying special attention to. As for the composition of the soil, it can be a rocky substrate, to which a little clay is added. Veronica armenian best of all takes root in rockeries or on alpine hills, she can coexist with almost any flower and shrub crops, while she belongs there, because she only replenishes and decorates them.

In general, we gave a very small overview of the most basic and demanded species of Veronica, which today can most often be found in horticulture and floriculture. Of course, the reader can determine for himself which species or variety he would most likely like to meet on his site, and which one will definitely take root in certain conditions. The most important thing is to be able to choose the right plant and follow all the rules for planting and subsequent care. We'll talk about caring for Veronica now, since this is really integral and very important information that will be useful not only for novice growers, but also for those who already have experience in planting plants, but they would like to know some subtleties and secrets in details. Of course, the general future state of the plant will depend on care, as well as how it will react to some procedures - pruning, transplanting, temperature changes, droughts, or vice versa - frost.

Depending on where the Veronica is located, they require not only certain conditions, but also certain care if they grow a crop in the garden. For species such as large, spiky, filamentous Veronica, the most ordinary garden soil in composition is quite suitable, and you can add quite a bit of sand or rubble to it so that they become natural drainage. If we talk about choosing a place. Then it should be an open and well-lit area, and the Veronica also perfectly tolerate their location in partial shade.If you plant them in absolute shade, then this will lead to the fact that the plant may lose its decorative features, so it is best, of course, not to do this. In general, the plants are completely unpretentious, they do not require any expenses from the gardener and florist, they do not even need to be covered for the winter, they tolerate frosts perfectly. After the flowering of the shrub ends, it is best to cut it off, after which the plant will give new shoots and, accordingly, its green mass will only increase. And in general, the plant tolerates pruning well, it quickly recovers after it, so this point should not be ignored, since pruning is an extremely important procedure. Most of the species calmly tolerate excessive drought, so sometimes they do not even need to be watered, they will function calmly and demonstrate their growth and development.

Veronica can be propagated either by seed or vegetative methods. The simplest, of course, is the way of dividing the shrub. The largest and strongest bush is dug up and cut into several divisions. The cuttings should have their own root system, as well as several viable buds, which will continue this shrub. The best time to divide a bush is usually in the spring, when the plant is just about to grow, and therefore has a better chance of taking root and giving excellent results in growth and development. You can also use a method such as cuttings, for this it is best to take the very tops from young shoots, since they are fresh and viable. In order for the cuttings to take root as quickly as possible, it is recommended to place them in a shaded area, and at the same time the soil should be loose and moist. Seeds are best sown just before winter sets in, and flowering usually begins in the second year after the seeds have been spread over the surface. But it is also worth considering the characteristics of each variety, since sometimes flowering can be delayed, and in general the plant can be quite late. The most important thing in this matter is to be patient and take care of the plant so that it receives all the necessary measures and caring aspects - watering, feeding, loosening, mulching.

As we said, some Veronica species are great for growing in rock gardens or rockeries, and they are also great for retaining walls. There are also species that are simply wonderful ground covers, from which solid and very dense carpets grow, which also bloom and look incredibly attractive. Also, Veronica fits well near the shores of reservoirs, which are decorated with stones. In general, the plant can be planted wherever you want, the main thing is to give fantasy to play out, as well as give the plant the opportunity to fully and fully reveal its decorative features and characteristics. In general, if a florist lands Veronica on his site, then he will definitely not regret it, because the plant is completely unpretentious, not capricious, but the result from it is simply amazing. The main thing is not to forget that elementary care measures are simply necessary, and then the plant will respond only with positive reactions.