Maddie James
Royal Candles Speedwell, also known as Veronica spicata 'Royal Candles', is a variety of the Veronica spicata species, commonly known as spiked speedwell. While Veronica spicata is rarely grown from seed, it can be sown directly in a garden during spring through mid-summer. The Royal Candles variety is a favourite perennial, known for its long-blooming deep purple-blue flower spikes and attractive foliage.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Common Name | Royal Candles Speedwell |
| Genus | Veronica |
| Species | Spicata |
| Height | 15-18 inches |
| Flower Colour | Deep purple-blue |
| Foliage Colour | Dark green |
| Bloom Time | Late spring to mid-summer |
| Sunlight | Full sun to partial shade |
| Soil | Loamy, well-drained |
| Propagation | Self-seeding or seed collection |
| Pests and Diseases | Fairly pest and disease-free, some susceptibility to mildew |
| Attracts | Butterflies |
| Resists | Rabbits and deer |
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What You'll Learn
Veronica spicata 'Royal Candles' is a type of spiked speedwell
Veronica spicata 'Royal Candles' is an outstanding upright-growing speedwell with large, attractive deep-green leaves and long-blooming spikes of deep purple-blue flowers. It is a favourite perennial and a standout bloomer, making a wonderful small-scale edging plant along sidewalks and paths. It is great in containers, too. Veronica spicata 'Royal Candles' is well-suited for rock gardens, along foundations, in border beds, and any sunny spot in the landscape. It makes a good fresh-cut flower in floral arrangements.
Veronica spicata is rarely grown from seed, but it can be sown directly in the garden in spring through mid-summer. These plants sometimes spread by self-seeding in the garden, or you can collect the seed heads and plant the seeds where you want. Veronica spicata thrives in a pot with well-drained soil. Tall, spiked blooms might need staking, even in a pot. Try not to disturb the speedwell's root system by transplanting too often, or the plant can start to decline. Reduce watering in the winter. To protect the plant from a wet winter, shelter it with something that will divert or block excessive precipitation.
Veronica is a robust genus of flowering plants that includes more than 500 species, several dozen of which are cultivated as landscape flowers. Of these, one of the most popular is the easy-growing perennial Veronica spicata, often known as spiked speedwell, which is often simply called speedwell. It is grown for its showy spikes of long-lasting flowers that begin blooming in late spring or early summer. The flowers rise on stems from dense mounds of foliage to form tapered, spike-like racemes covered by tiny, star-shaped flowers in a striking shade of violet-blue. Their height varies greatly depending on the variety, from a compact 6 inches to 3 feet.
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Veronica spicata is rarely grown from seed
Veronica spicata, also known as spiked speedwell, is a flowering plant that is rarely grown from seed. It is a popular hardy perennial that grows upright with multiple spires of intensely blue flowers. It is a low-maintenance plant that is well-suited for rock gardens, along foundations, in border beds, and any sunny spot in the landscape.
The best time to plant Veronica spicata is in the spring after the soil is warm enough to work easily. It can be sown directly in the garden in spring through mid-summer. Germination can take two to three weeks. These plants sometimes spread by self-seeding in the garden, or you can collect the seed heads and plant the seeds where you want.
Veronica spicata is known for its showy spikes of long-lasting flowers that begin blooming in late spring or early summer. The flowers rise on stems from dense mounds of foliage to form tapered, spike-like racemes covered by tiny, star-shaped flowers in a striking shade of violet-blue. Their height varies greatly depending on the variety, from a compact 6 inches to 3 feet.
One of the most popular varieties of Veronica spicata is 'Royal Candles', which is known for its large, attractive deep-green leaves and long-blooming spikes of deep purple-blue flowers. 'Royal Candles' is easily cultivated in average garden conditions in sun to part sun locations. It makes a wonderful small-scale edging plant along sidewalks and paths and is great in containers too.
Overall, Veronica spicata is a robust and easy-growing perennial that is well-suited for a variety of garden applications. While it is rarely grown from seed, it can be propagated by dividing the plants every few years or by collecting and planting the seed heads.
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Spiked speedwell blooms well even if rarely fed
Spiked speedwell, or Veronica spicata, is a low-maintenance plant that blooms well even if rarely fed. At most, a single annual feeding will suffice; many gardeners omit feeding altogether or fertilise just once every other year. It is a robust genus of flowering plants that includes more than 500 species, several dozen of which are cultivated as landscape flowers.
Spiked speedwell is an easy-care perennial with long-lasting blue-violet flowers in the summer. It is well-suited for rock gardens, along foundations, in border beds, and any sunny spot in the landscape. It makes a good fresh-cut flower in floral arrangements. Veronica flowers attract butterflies and bees, but the plants are not of much interest to deer or rabbits.
Spiked speedwell is a fast grower, but it is not invasive, and it grows from nearly ground level after being cut back for overwintering to full height before the end of the growing season. The best time to plant veronica is in spring after the soil is warm enough to work easily. Veronica spicata 'Glory', sometimes sold under the trade name 'Royal Candles', has low-growing foliage (about 12 inches tall) from which 10- to 12-inch blue-violet flower racemes rise in late spring through mid-summer. 'Royal Candles' is a favourite perennial and one of the showiest, longest-blooming selections in this genus. It is easily cultivated in average garden conditions in sun to part sun locations.
Veronica spicata is rarely grown from seed, but it can be sown directly in the garden in spring through mid-summer. Germination can take two to three weeks. These plants sometimes spread by self-seeding in the garden, or you can collect the seed heads and plant the seeds where you want.
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Spiked speedwell is a fast-growing, low-maintenance plant
Spiked speedwell, or Veronica spicata, is a fast-growing, low-maintenance plant. It is a perennial, meaning it will grow back year after year, and is known for its showy spikes of long-lasting flowers that begin blooming in late spring or early summer. The flowers rise on stems from dense mounds of foliage, forming tapered, spike-like racemes covered by tiny, star-shaped flowers in shades of violet-blue or reddish-pink, depending on the variety. The height of the plant can vary greatly, from a compact 6 inches to 3 feet tall.
Spiked speedwell is a robust and durable plant that is well-suited for rock gardens, along foundations, in border beds, and any sunny spot in the landscape. It is easy to grow and requires very little care, making it a popular choice for gardeners. While it is rarely grown from seed, it can be sown directly in the garden in spring through mid-summer, and germination typically takes two to three weeks. Spiked speedwell thrives in full sun locations but will tolerate partial shade, and it prefers loamy, well-drained soil as soggy soil can cause root rot.
The Royal Candles variety of spiked speedwell is particularly notable for its upright, bushy habit and large, attractive deep-green leaves. It produces long-blooming spikes of deep purple-blue flowers that add elegant vertical interest to the garden. This variety is easy to cultivate in average garden conditions and makes a wonderful small-scale edging plant along sidewalks and paths. It is also great in containers and can create a dramatic impact when used in this way.
To care for spiked speedwell, it is important to deadhead the flowers, or remove spent blooms, to promote additional flowering and extend the blooming season. The foliage can be sheared back if it becomes worn-looking after flowering. Spiked speedwell is fairly pest and disease-free, although it may be susceptible to mildew. It is attractive to butterflies but resistant to rabbits and deer.
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Spiked speedwell is a perennial with long-lasting flowers
Spiked speedwell, or Veronica spicata, is a perennial with long-lasting flowers that is easy to grow and requires very little care. It is a robust genus of flowering plants that includes more than 500 species, with several dozen cultivated as landscape flowers. Of these, one of the most popular is the easy-growing Veronica spicata, often known as spiked speedwell or simply speedwell.
Veronica spicata 'Royal Candles' is a favourite perennial and one of the showiest, longest-blooming selections in this genus. It is a durable plant with a low, compact mat of attractive 2" long leaves. It produces stunning displays of deep purple-blue flower spikes, with large, attractive deep-green leaves. It blooms from late spring through to mid-summer and is easily cultivated in average garden conditions in sunny to partially sunny locations.
Spiked speedwell is a fast-growing plant that is well-suited for rock gardens, along foundations, in border beds, and any sunny spot in the landscape. It is a good fresh-cut flower in floral arrangements and the flowers attract butterflies and bees. The plants are not of much interest to deer or rabbits. To extend the blooming season, deadhead the faded flower spikes to show off the plant's dark green foliage for the rest of the growing season.
Spiked speedwell is rarely grown from seed, but it can be sown directly in the garden in spring through to mid-summer. Germination can take two to three weeks. These plants sometimes spread by self-seeding in the garden, or you can collect the seed heads and plant the seeds where you want. Spiked speedwell thrives in a pot with well-drained soil.
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Frequently asked questions
Veronica spicata 'Royal Candles' is a variety of Veronica spicata, commonly known as spiked speedwell. It is regarded as the best upright form of speedwell and is characterised by its dense, slender spikes of star-shaped, deep blue-purple flowers.
Royal Candles Speedwell is easy to grow and requires very low care. It is best planted in spring after the soil is warm enough to work with easily. It thrives in full sun locations but will tolerate partial shade. Loamy, well-drained soil is the best environment for this plant.
Veronica spicata is rarely grown from seed, but it can be sown directly in the garden in spring through mid-summer. Germination can take up to three weeks.
