Let speedwell give dry garden the blues

This is one part in a weekly series featuring the UC Davis Arboretum’s “Garden Gems” series – 45 can’t-fail, easy-care, low-water plants well adapted to our region and that add sparkle to drought-tolerant landscapes.

Creeping speedwell

Veronica ‘Waterperry Blue’

Size: Up to 6 inches tall and 1 to 2 feet wide

Bloom season: Loose clusters of soft blue flowers with a white eye; heavy in spring

Exposure: Sun or partial shade

Pruning needs: None

Water needs: Medium; once established, water deeply once a week.

Snapshot: This pretty ground cover will “speedwell” into your heart. A trailing perennial with attractive shiny bronze-tinted leaves, creeping speedwell features delicate blue flowers. It’s particularly nice as a low ground cover in front of and around taller plants in the water-wise garden. Speedwell can fill in borders without overpowering its neighbors. This hybrid is deer resistant and tolerates foot traffic, too.

For more on “Garden Gems,” click on arboretum.ucdavis.edu.

This story was originally published February 17, 2017 at 8:00 AM with the headline "Let speedwell give dry garden the blues."