Veronica Royal Candles is a beautiful perennial plant that adds vibrant vertical spikes of color to gardens With proper companion planting, these eye-catching flowers can be the star of your landscape In this article, we’ll explore how to successfully grow Veronica Royal Candles and which plants make the best companions.
Overview of Veronica Royal Candles
Veronica Royal Candles (Veronica spicata ‘Royal Candles’) is a hybrid variety known for its dense, upright spikes of bright purple flowers. It blooms in early to mid-summer on plants that reach 1-2 feet tall and 1 foot wide The narrow green leaves provide a nice contrast to the richly-colored blooms
This plant can survive in zones 4–8 and does best in full sun. It grows best in moist, well-drained soil, but once it’s established, it can handle drought better. Deadheading spent blooms encourages more flowering. Split up clumps every two to three years in the spring to keep them healthy.
Veronica Royal Candles has fewer disease problems than some Veronica species but powdery mildew can be an issue, Good air circulation helps prevent foliar diseases,
Best Companion Plants for Veronica Royal Candles
With its vertical form and weeks of color, Veronica Royal Candles stands out beautifully when combined with other perennials, annuals, bulbs, and shrubs. Here are some excellent plant pairings:
Perennials
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The summer blooms of bee balm (Monarda) in shades of red, pink, and purple attract pollinators. Grows 18-36 inches tall.
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Black-eyed Susans (Rudbeckia) – Cheerful yellow daisies bloom summer into fall. Grows 24-36 inches tall.
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Laitris, or “blazing star,” has bright purple flower spikes in the middle to end of summer. Grows 24-48 inches tall.
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Coral bells (Heuchera) – Evergreen foliage and airy blooms. Grows 12-18 inches tall.
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Coneflower (Echinacea) – Daisy-like flowers in pink, purple, white. Grows 24-40 inches tall.
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Daylily (Hemerocallis) – Early to late summer blooms in many colors. Grows 15-30 inches tall.
Annuals
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Cosmos – Airy flowers in pink, white, red. Grows 24-48 inches tall.
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Marigolds – Cheery yellow, gold, orange blooms. Grows 6-30 inches tall depending on variety.
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Snapdragon (Antirrhinum) – Spikes of pink, red, white, yellow. Grows 6-36 inches tall.
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Sunflowers (Helianthus annuus) – Towering yellow blooms. Dwarf types grow 12-18 inches, larger varieties 4-12 feet tall.
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Zinnias – Profuse flowers in many bright colors. Grows 6 inches to 4 feet tall depending on variety.
Bulbs
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Alliums – Large rounded flower heads bloom spring to early summer. Grows 8-36 inches tall depending on variety.
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Daffodils (Narcissus) – Cheery spring blooms in yellow, white, orange, pink. Grows 6-24 inches tall.
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Ornamental onions (Allium) – Purple spherical flower clusters in late spring. Grows 12-36 inches tall.
Shrubs
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Spirea – Spring and summer blooms on mounded shrubs. Grows 2-6 feet tall and wide.
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Weigela – Tubular flowers in pink, red, white in late spring. Grows 4-6 feet tall and wide.
Companion Planting in Containers
The vertical form of Veronica Royal Candles also looks fantastic combined with other plants in patio containers and window boxes. Try mixing it with:
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Annuals like trailing nasturtiums, petunias, or verbena
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Herbs like thyme, oregano, basil
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Ornamental grasses like blue fescue for height and texture
Use a quality potting mix and fertilize monthly with a balanced liquid fertilizer. Place the container in full sun. Water regularly, allowing the soil to dry slightly between waterings.
Designing a Garden Bed with Veronica Royal Candles
When planting a landscape bed featuring Veronica Royal Candles, here is an eye-catching sample combination:
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Backdrop shrubs: Abelia, spirea, weigela
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Mid-layer perennials: Bee balm, coneflowers, black-eyed susans
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Front layer groundcover: Sweet alyssum or dwarf coleus
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Vertical Thriller: Veronica Royal Candles
This lively garden will provide non-stop color from spring through fall. The Veronica Royal Candles will beautifully highlight the rounded shapes of the shrubs and mounded perennials. The groundcover fills in the front to prevent bare soil.
Growing a Vibrant Garden with Veronica Royal Candles
With its long-lasting vertical color, Veronica Royal Candles brings energy and beauty to gardens and containers. Combine it with compatible perennials, annuals, bulbs, and shrubs to create stunning displays. With this guide for successful companion planting, you’ll be on your way to a gorgeous landscape that features the eye-catching blooms of Veronica Royal Candles.
HOW TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT VERONICA
With so many varieties, here are some tips to consider:
PerennialsDiscover the right perennial plants for your garden.
Magic Show® ‘Purple Illusion’ spike speedwell. Photo by: Proven Winners
For gardeners with limited time, choosing carefree plants is key to a low-maintenance yard. Speedwell (Veronica) is a tough ornamental that is tolerant of different soils and watering needs, with varieties that are hardy in most regions. Sizes and forms range from creeping groundcovers a few inches high to upright flower spikes reaching several feet tall. Low-growing veronicas work well in pots, along borders, and in rock gardens. Taller veronicas make good cut flowers and look great with other plants in beds and borders. Groundcovers tend to bloom in spring, while spiky forms produce flowers during the summer.
There are more than 500 species of Veronica, with origins mainly in Europe. Nearly all are long-lived perennials, particularly those grown by home gardeners, though a small percentage are annuals. Veronica flowers are attractive to hummingbirds, butterflies and pollinating insects, making them eco-friendly, too.
3 to 48 inches tall, 8 to 24 inches wide
Veronica blooms best with at least 6 hours of full sun, but can tolerate partial shade.
From spring to fall, some with repeat bloom.
Flowers come in blue, purple, white or pink; with green, gold, or silver foliage. There are a lot of tiny flowers or short flower spikes on groundcover types, and summer-blooming, taller types have clusters of flowers that grow on spikes.
Veronica is not thought to be toxic to humans or pets. Some are edible, while others have herbal or medicinal qualities.
Magic Show® White Wands spike speedwell. Photo by: Proven Winners
Transplant during cooler months in spring or fall to avoid heat stress. Start seed indoors in late winter or early spring, 4 to 6 weeks prior to your last average frost-free date. Sow seeds directly outside in mid-late spring after all danger of frost is past.
Choose a sunny site with rich, well-draining soil. Veronica can tolerate a range of soil conditions and is drought-tolerant once established. Planting in too much shade can result in fewer flowers.
Loosen soil to the depth of the container and twice the diameter, and mix in compost. Remove the plant from the container and gently tease out the roots if potbound. Make a hole and set the plant down so that the top of the root ball is level with the ground. Gently tamp down soil around the base and water well. Spacing will vary from 10 to 20 inches depending on the variety. When growing from seed, press seeds gently into the soil but don’t cover, as light will aid in germination. Keep moist until seeds germinate in approximately 14 to 21 days.
For upright types, cut back spent flowers just below the spike to encourage rebloom. Taller varieties may need staking. All types can be divided in spring or fall every few years as needed, especially if dieback occurs at the center of the plant.
Most veronicas do best in amended, well-draining soil. They are tolerant of clay or sand, as well as neutral, alkaline, or acidic pH.
In spring, cover soil around the plant with a thin layer of compost, then add two inches of mulch to suppress weeds and conserve moisture. Avoid covering the crown of the plant with either the compost or mulch.
Water once a week during summer, or more as needed during hot spells.
When planted in the ideal site, veronica is resistant to most pests and diseases. If planted in too much shade, veronica can develop fungal diseases such as powdery mildew, rust and leaf spot. Poor drainage can cause root rot. Insect problems include scale, spider mites, and thrips.
Veronica tends to be deer-resistant, though extreme conditions can result in deer grazing on plants they wouldn’t otherwise.
Veronica ‘Royal Candles’ Speedwell – Power Perennial – Plant Spotlight
FAQ
What plants go well with Veronica?
Veronica combines well with many other perennials. Possible companions include tickseed, daylily, yarrow, lady’s mantle, salvia, campanula, Shasta daisy, and coral bells. For early-flowering types, combine with spring blooming bulbs such as tulips and daffodils.
Does Veronica Royal candles spread?
Royal Candles Veronica will grow to be about 15 inches tall at maturity, with a spread of 15 inches.
What goes well with Veronica?
Pair veronica with companions like salvia, sedum, shasta daisy, yarrow, or nepeta to create bold, long-lasting plant combinations.
What to pair with Speedwell?
Combine it with other classic cottage garden plants like Roses, Peonies, or Delphiniums. Cut Flower Gardens: If you enjoy bringing fresh flowers indoors, consider including Longleaf Speedwell in a cut flower garden. Its long, sturdy flower spikes hold up well in arrangements.