Veronica, Ms Ever After

Ms. Ever After Speedwell brings the classic blue flower spikes of veronica in a mounding, well-behaved form that earns a spot near the front of the sunny border. The rich blue spikes rise above tidy green foliage from late spring through summer, drawing butterflies and providing a cool, clean color contrast to warm-toned neighbors like yellow coreopsis or orange helenium. It grows to a compact foot and a half, spreading a bit wider than it is tall, creating a polished, full-looking mound without sprawling or flopping. It asks for full sun and average moisture, and once established it’s both deer-resistant and reliably long-lived. Cut the spent spikes back after bloom to encourage a second flush of color later in the season. Few perennials deliver this kind of reliable, refined performance with so little fuss.