Low-growing veronicas are among the best rock plants; even out of bloom, they are attractive, and when sheeted with blue or white, or pink flowers, they are truly delightful.
Plants that hold their foliage beauty through the winter are half the charm of a rock garden and a real comfort to the gardener.
Many of the veronicas change the colors of their leaves during the cold months, but they retain much winter beauty, which often adds to their interest.
Veronica Rupestris
V. rupestris has tiny dark green leaves along slender stems that lie quite flat over a rock or mound, carpeting it with a soft, deep green that bursts into a mass of bright blue flowers.
Grown above a light-colored rock where it may fall over the face of it or down steps or over a little “hill,” this veronica shows up to the best advantage and makes a lovely picture.
A happy companion for it is the delicately pink Rue Anemone. V. rupestris is never untidy.
It is all the trimmer for a light shearing after its heavy spring blooming is over. In winter, the foliage of this veronica develops a slight purplish cast.
Veronica Caespitosa
V. caespitosa is another charming creeper, falling down the face of a dark old rock, for it is a mass of the finest, gray-wooly leaves covered with delightful pink stars during May and June.
I love silvery plants among the rocks, and they are about perfect when they have rose flowers.
This veronica, too, is all the lovelier for being planted where it may fall over and veil, a bank, or the sides of steps.
V. caespitosa is still pretty during the winter months, even though it loses its soft gray and is clear light green.
Scilla sibirica poking its bright blue spikes up through the gray, rose-spangled mat, makes a beautiful combination.
Veronica Terhani
Altogether different is V. terhani, with its short, densely leaved stems in a close little cushion.
The bright golden leaves are larger than in the creepers, smooth and shining, with scalloped edges.
Seeing this veronica from a little distance, people often ask what that pretty yellow flower is.
Half the beauty of a rock garden lies in the foliage, and this plant is one of the most outstanding.
It has the unusual trick of dying down completely during a prolonged dry, hot spell, making one think it is killed, but as soon as the rains start or it gets a good drink.
The lovely golden flowerlike shoots start from the old crown, never growing more than an inch or two until the next spring, just before its blooming time.
I like to trim off all the old growth when the dry weather hits badly and let the shoots come all from the crown instead of a few scattered along the old stems.
V. terhani loses its clear golden yellow and is a blend of yellow and green in winter. It is at its best in a pocket of dark rocks, where the contrast brings out its beautiful coloring.
These three grand rock garden veronicas came through eleven hard drought years in my old Kansas garden with banners flying—or, if not exactly flying, at least unfurled.
Tiny Varieties
Here in the new garden, they are all the heart a gardener could ask for. Someday I hope to have a whole tribe of the tiny varieties.
Here are a few of the best:
- V. Iyalli, a tiny 8-inch shrub covered with spikes of white, pink-veined flowers. Beautifully grown near Y. rupestris.
- V. peduncularis, a fine variety from the Caucasus, growing about 4” inches high and producing pearly-white blossoms lined with pink. A treasure and one not easily come by.
- Y. repens, soft green sheets covered the summer through with heads of pale blue bloom. Snowdrops above and among them are beautiful.
- Y. saxatilis, one of the choicest, has splendid foliage of deep shining green and intense azure blue flowers.
44659 by Mrs. H. P. Magers