Veronica orchidea

‘Blue Fingers’

BLUE FINGERS SPEEDWELL

Syn. V. spicata ssp. orchidea

Veronica orchidea ‘Blue Fingers’
BLUE FINGERS SPEEDWELL

Veronica orchidea ‘Blue Fingers’ is an unusual Veronica and rarely seen in Australia.
But it deserves to be widely grown and appreciated.

Big fat beefy spikes like fat fingers

Veronica orchidea ‘Blue Fingers’  is a very showy plant, with large, fat flower spires, like beefy fingers pointing straight at the sky.
Their colour is a rich, strong, mid blue-violet, so they really make a visual impact in the garden or the vase.

Lovely deep green glossy foliage

The foliage of Veronica orchidea is also an asset, as it is deep emerald green, mirror shiny, and shaped like broad arrow heads.
So the foliage also contributes texture and contrast to the garden planting.
The leaves are evergreen and remain as a low mound during the winter when the ‘Blue Fingers’ flowers are not pointing skyward.

Long blooming

‘Blue Fingers’ puts on a continuous display all through summer & autumn.
And the spires really catch attention as they form dense columns of colour in the summer.
Making brilliant vertical colour accents, and for such a very long time with months of bloom.

Exceptional cut flowers for florists

The flower spires also make excellent fresh cut flowers, as they are long lasting in the vase and such bold tapers in floral arrangements.

Good in dry & heat

Plant Veronica orchidea ‘Blue Fingers’ in Full Sun, though it can also tolerate some Partial Shade as long as it is not damp shade and the position is well aired.
‘Blue Fingers’ revels in good drainage – So it is right at home in sandy soil, gravel or rocky soil, as well as garden loam. It also appreciates lime and some fertilizer in spring.
However do not be too generous with the feed, particularly in good soil, as it flowers better and has even stronger, more compact growth if it does it a little tough.

Drought resistant & water-wise

Hardy Veronica orchidea ‘Blue Fingers’ are drought resistant plants, water-wise and needing very little supplementary water.
So they will keep on smiling through periods of heat and dry.

Equally tough in frost

And ‘Blue Fingers’ plants are equally resistant to hard frosts. Because they can tolerate temperatures down to at least -20C and well below, depending on conditions.

Magnet for bees, butterflies & other insect friends

Bees and butterflies cant resist Veronica orchidea ‘Blue Fingers’, because of the abundant nectar in the flowers.
And the fat blue fingers of bloom provide such a reliable food supply for our flying friends, because of the exceptionally long and consistent blooming.
Blooming through months when many other plants have given up flowering in the heat.

But no friend to rabbits and deer

Thankfully the flavour of Veronica is not appealing to our nibbling foes.

Low care & easy maintenance

Veronica orchidea ‘Blue Fingers’ is an evergreen perennial.
The only work to keep it growing perfectly is to cut back the spent flower stems at the end of the season, right back to the base of evergreen foliage.
Veronica is rarely if ever troubled by pests or diseases. Though mildew may occur if it is kept too damp or without good air flow.

Well worth growing

45cm. High fat spires of violet-blue x 30cm. Wide low clump of glossy evergreen foliage.
Lovely Veronica orchidea is now endangered in the wild due to habitat destruction. It is a native of Czech Republic, Italian and Austrian grasslands.
While beautiful ‘Blue Fingers’ is a recently introduced garden cultivar of the original wild species.

SEED SOWING ADVICE: QUICK & EASY
Suitable for beginners & gardening with kids

Sow all year in punnets indoors / scatter in the garden in spring or autumn.

Sow indoors for quick & early plants: First sow the seeds in a punnet on the surface of good quality seed raising mix.
Then pat gently to the surface to ensure good contact.
But do not cover the seeds with mix or bury them, because these seeds need light to germinate.

Now thoroughly moisten the sown punnet by standing in a shallow water bath.
And allowing the moisture to percolate up to the surface from below.

Then place the punnet in a warm, well-lit position (not in any direct sunlight).
You can use a heat mat if you have one, or a warm window sill (out of the sun).

Temperatures of 18-22C approx. are best for rapid and optimum germination.

Continue to keep moist by misting from a spray water bottle as required.
Covering the punnet with a clear plastic lid also helps top maintain consistent moisture.

Seedlings emerge in approx. 14-28 days.

Seed Count: 100 seeds per pack approx.
(We always aim to exceed the stated seed count and give a generous serve).

Click here for Nursery Open Days & Open Gardens Information
https://www.gardivalia.com.au/open-gardens

Click here to go back to Seeds Shop
https://www.seedscape.net.au/shop/