Garden speedwell vs Spiked speedwell

Garden speedwell and Spiked speedwell are often considered for the same spot in the garden (flowers, pollinator friendly). The data below shows where they differ: size, hardiness, care, toxicity and price.

Garden speedwell

Veronica longifolia 90 cm × 45 cm after 10 years

An upright, clump-forming perennial that carries long, slender lilac-blue spikes above narrow toothed leaves in summer; there are white and pink…

Perennial

Full sun

Part shade

from about CZK 100

Spiked speedwell

Veronica spicata 50 cm × 40 cm after 10 years

A slender perennial with upright spikes of blue flowers (pink or white in some cultivars) that draw bees and butterflies for weeks in summer. Give…

Perennial

Full sun

from about CZK 69

Key differences

Garden speedwell grows larger: 90 cm × 45 cm after ten years, against 50 cm × 40 cm for Spiked speedwell.
Spiked speedwell tolerates drought better than Garden speedwell.
Spiked speedwell is cheaper: about CZK 69 at the size usually planted, against about CZK 140 for Garden speedwell.

Which one to choose?

Spiked speedwell is the better choice if space is tight, you cannot water regularly or price matters.

Watch out for

Garden speedwell

It does not tolerate dry soil: in the hot, droughty summers of Central Europe it wilts without watering, goes bare from the base and is then attacked by powdery mildew as well. In too much shade or in over-rich soil it grows lanky and flops, and taller varieties are worth staking. Downy mildew, leaf spot and aphids can occur, and root and crown rot in waterlogged soil.

Spiked speedwell

The crown rots easily in wet, poorly drained soil, especially in winter. Powdery mildew and leaf spot can appear in humid, crowded spots. Garden cultivars are shallow-rooted, so in the hot, dry summers of Central Europe they flower poorly without some watering.

The data side by side

Feature	Garden speedwell	Spiked speedwell
Group	Perennial	Perennial
Size after 10 years	90 cm × 45 cm	50 cm × 40 cm
Ultimate size	0.6–1.2 m × 30–60 cm	30–90 cm × 30–75 cm (uncertain)
Growth rate	no data	Medium (uncertain)
Light	Full sun, Part shade	Full sun
Soil	Average garden soil	Average garden soil, Sandy, Calcareous
Hardiness	down to -34 °C (USDA 4, RHS H7)	down to -40 °C (USDA 3, RHS H7)
Heat tolerance	no data	High (uncertain)
Foliage	Deciduous	Deciduous
Flowering	June–September, blue, purple, white, pink	June–September, blue, purple, pink, white
Water need	Medium	Medium
Drought tolerance	Low	Medium
Maintenance	Low	Low
Planting distance	40 cm	35 cm
For children	no data	Non-toxic (uncertain)
Typical price	approx. CZK 140	approx. CZK 69

Prices are rounded, indicative values. Toxicity data is for information only. If your pet or child has eaten a plant, contact a vet or a doctor. Data updated: October 17, 2026

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