Turkish speedwell

Sun

Full sun to light partial shade; afternoon shade helps in hot climates.

Water

Water regularly while establishing. Once rooted, it tolerates dry spells, but benefits from occasional deep watering during prolonged drought.

Soil

Well-drained sandy, gritty or gravelly soil; tolerates modest fertility and neutral to alkaline conditions. Avoid heavy, persistently wet soil.

Height

0.1-0.25 ft (0.03-0.08 m)

Spread

1-2 ft (0.3-0.6 m)

Flowers

Bright blue flowers with pale centres in mid- to late spring, sometimes followed by scattered flowers in early summer.

Foliage

Tiny, oval, dark green leaves form a close carpet. Usually evergreen, but foliage may bronze or suffer damage in severe winters.

Growth

Moderate; creeping stems root as they spread.

Care needed

Low

• Pollinators
• Drought tolerant
• Cold hardy
• Heat tolerant
• Low allergen

Northern hemisphere months. In Australia, shift them by six.

Difficulty

Easy

Toughness

Very tough

Pick your zone, country, light and whether you have pets.

1. Planting day

   0 ft (0.01 m)

2. After 1 year

   0.1 ft (0.03 m)

3. After 2 years

   0.2 ft (0.05 m)

4. After 3 years

   0.2 ft (0.06 m)

   full size

About 3 years to full size.

From a typical nursery size, at an average rate for this kind of plant. A rule of thumb, not a forecast.

Cats and dogs

Safe

Growth rate

Moderate

• Water newly planted patches whenever the upper soil begins to dry, until their roots are established.
• Improve drainage before planting in heavy soil, or use a raised gravel bed.
• Avoid routine feeding; excess fertiliser encourages loose growth rather than a tight mat.
• Keep fallen leaves and thick organic mulch off the foliage, especially in wet winters.
• Lift and divide healthy rooted sections in spring if an older patch develops bare areas.

Pruning. After flowering, lightly trim ragged growth and cut back stems that stray onto paths. Remove winter-damaged foliage in spring without cutting deeply into healthy mats.

Early spring

Remove trapped leaves and winter-damaged growth; check that water drains freely around the plants.

Spring

Plant or divide rooted sections, then water until established.

Late spring

After the main flowering flush, lightly trim untidy edges if needed.

Summer

Water during prolonged drought and keep heavy foot traffic off the mat.

Autumn

Clear fallen leaves and remove weeds before they become embedded in the carpet.

Winter

Keep drainage channels clear and avoid walking on frozen or waterlogged plants.

• Plant between widely spaced stepping stones where foot traffic is occasional.
• Use around rocks in an alpine or gravel garden for a low carpet of spring blue.
• Edge a sunny path with a narrow strip that softens the paving without hiding it.
• Combine with dwarf spring bulbs, whose flowers rise above the foliage.

Garden styles it suits: Alpine rock garden, Dry gravel garden, Low-maintenance, Cottage garden, Small-space and Blues and silvers.

Plant it with: Creeping thyme, Dwarf bearded iris, Crocus, Reticulated iris, Rock rose and Low-growing stonecrop.

Wildlife: The flowers provide nectar and pollen for small bees and other visiting insects.

• Root and crown rot in waterlogged soil: improve drainage, reduce watering and replace badly rotted patches with healthy material.
• Thin or open growth in deep shade: move rooted sections to a brighter position.
• Scorched or brown patches during prolonged heat and drought: water deeply when the soil is dry and provide light afternoon shade in very hot sites.
• Worn or bare patches from repeated walking: redirect traffic onto paving and replant damaged areas.

Not known to be toxic to people, cats, dogs or horses. Species-specific safety information is limited; it is an ornamental plant, not a food plant, and no part should be offered as feed.

• Slender speedwell (Veronica filiformis)

  Has more rounded, kidney-shaped leaves and pale blue flowers on slender stalks. It commonly spreads through lawns, unlike the tighter, small oval-leaved mat of Turkish speedwell.

• Prostrate speedwell (Veronica prostrata)

  Has longer, narrower leaves and conspicuous upright spikes of blue flowers above its spreading foliage; Turkish speedwell carries its flowers close to the mat.

The common name refers to Turkey, which forms part of the plant's native range.

Propagation. Divide rooted sections in spring or early autumn, keeping each piece moist until established. Non-flowering stem cuttings can also be rooted in a freely draining medium in late spring or summer.

Accepted botanical name

Veronica liwanensis

Native range

Transcaucasus and Turkey.

Sources: GBIF (CC BY 4.0) and Trefle (CC BY 4.0). The care and design notes are LandscapeGPT's own.