About
Veronica albicans (H) is a low-growing, compact evergreen shrub that forms a tight mound. It features small, bluish-green, oblong leaves and produces numerous short spikes of white flowers in early summer. After flowering, the old brown seed heads provide a contrasting 'salt and pepper' appearance.
About the genus
Veronica encompasses annuals, perennials, and sub-shrubs characterized by opposite leaves and small flowers that typically appear in terminal or axillary racemes or spikes.
Growing conditions
- Sunlight
- Full sun, Partial shade
- Soil type
- Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand
- Soil pH
- Alkaline, Neutral
- Soil moisture
- Moist but well-drained, Well-drained
- Aspect
- South-facing, North-facing, West-facing, East-facing
- Exposure
- Sheltered
- UK hardiness
- H4
Plant details
- Plant type
- Shrubs
- Habit
- Bushy
- Foliage
- Evergreen
- Height
- 0.1-0.5 metres
- Spread
- 0.5-1 metres
- Time to full height
- 5-10 years
- Suggested uses
- City and courtyard gardens, Cottage and informal garden, Gravel garden, Wildlife gardens
- Native to
- New Zealand (South Is.)
Care notes
- Cultivation
- Grows well in poor to moderately fertile soil in sun or partials shade with protection from cold, drying winds. Tolerant of some pollution and can also be grown in a cool glasshouse in a loam-based compost with shade from hot sun This plant was included in the Shrubby Veronica (hebe) trial 2021-2023
- Pruning
- Pruning group 9
- Propagation
- Propagate by seed sown in containers in a cold frame as soon as ripe. Cultivars will not come true. Root semi-hardwood cuttings in late summer or autumn with added bottom heat
- Pest resistance
- May be susceptible to aphids
- Disease resistance
- High Risk Host for Xylella fastidiosa. May be susceptible to downy mildews, fungal leaf spot, fungal rot, Phytophthora and sometimes honey fungus