Veronicas, long lost in the second or third division of hardy perennials, have been making a name for themselves as cut flowers in recent years. Their long spikes and their lasting quality have encouraged florists to take them up.
But while plant breeders have been developing new varieties for cutting, they’ve not forgotten gardeners and the latest addition to the gardener’s range is Veronica ‘Blue Bomb’.
Developed in Holland by Jan Vershoor, well known for his phlox and other perennials, this is a very distinctive plant with tall straight stems which branch repeatedly at their tips to create a cluster of short blue spikes.
Plants reach about 45-60cm in height, with fresh green foliage which makes a good background to show off the flower heads, and they have a very long flowering season – May to September – which is exactly what so many gardeners need now that gardens are getting smaller: every plant must give its best for as long as possible. So a long flowering plant like Veronica ‘Blue Bomb’ with an extended season of colour is ideal in a small space. And the clumps fatten up steadily without ever becoming a nuisance.
Editor-in-Chief of the RHS Encyclopedia of Perennials; writer for a wide range of newspapers and magazines including The Garden and The Plantsman; member of the RHS Herbaceous Plant Committee and Floral Trials Committee; author of many books on plants and gardens.
Source: RHS My Garden – Veronica ‘Blue Bomb’: New from Parkers – Graham Rice