Getting it to bloom

Why won't my Georgia Blue Speedwell bloom? (and how to make it flower)

Also called Georgia Blue Speedwell, Georgia Blue Veronica (Veronica peduncularis 'Georgia Blue').

More about georgia blue speedwell

About Georgia Blue Speedwell

Veronica peduncularis 'Georgia Blue' · also called Georgia Blue Speedwell, Georgia Blue Veronica · flowering

Georgia Blue Speedwell is a vigorous, ground-hugging perennial with semi-evergreen, deep bronze-green foliage that turns purple-bronze in winter. From late winter through spring it is smothered in small, vivid deep-blue flowers with white eyes. Excellent as a weed-suppressing ground cover or rock garden plant.

Plant type: flowering

Watch for — Aphids: Clusters of aphids on young spring growth can distort stems and flower buds. Dislodge with a strong water jet or apply insecticidal soap.

The reasons georgia blue speedwell isn't blooming

Almost every non-blooming georgia blue speedwell traces back to one of these, roughly in order of how common they are:

Too little sun — most of these need full sun (or very bright light) to flower well; shade gives leaves, not blooms.
Too much nitrogen feed, driving lush foliage at the expense of flowers (very common with general or lawn feeds).
The plant has not been deadheaded, so it stops flowering once it sets seed.
Irregular watering — drought or waterlogging at the budding stage makes buds abort.
It is still too young or was checked by a transplant and is rebuilding before flowering.

Feeding georgia blue speedwell a high-nitrogen general feed and growing it in too little sun — you get a big leafy plant and almost no flowers.

The fix — how to get georgia blue speedwell to flower

Maximise sun. Give georgia blue speedwell the sunniest spot you have — for most bedding and fruiting plants, more direct light directly means more flowers.
Switch the feed. Move off high-nitrogen feeds and use a higher-potassium "bloom" or tomato-type feed as it comes into flower.
Deadhead regularly. Remove spent flowers often to keep it producing more rather than stopping to set seed.
Water consistently. Keep moisture even through budding and flowering — drought-then-flood swings make buds drop.

Light and feeding do most of the heavy lifting here. Dial in the spot with the light guide for georgia blue speedwell and get the feeding right with the georgia blue speedwell fertilising schedule — the wrong feed (too much nitrogen) is one of the most common silent reasons a healthy plant makes leaves instead of flowers.

Bloom season and what to expect

Georgia Blue Speedwell flowers across its growing season (mostly summer) and, kept fed and deadheaded, can bloom for many weeks or right up to frost.

Post-bloom care so it flowers again

Deadhead, keep feeding lightly, and many will rebloom; collect seed from the best plants at the end of the season if you want to grow them again.

For everything else this plant needs day to day, see the full georgia blue speedwell care brief and its watering schedule — a stressed, badly watered plant rarely has the energy to flower at all.

Georgia Blue Speedwell blooming — frequently asked questions

Why won't my georgia blue speedwell flower?

Georgia Blue Speedwell blooms on the season's growth given enough sun, warmth and the right feed — there is no cold or photoperiod trick, just good growing conditions and a bloom-leaning feed. The most common reason it is not happening: Too little sun — most of these need full sun (or very bright light) to flower well; shade gives leaves, not blooms.

How do I make georgia blue speedwell bloom?

Give georgia blue speedwell the sunniest spot you have — for most bedding and fruiting plants, more direct light directly means more flowers. Move off high-nitrogen feeds and use a higher-potassium "bloom" or tomato-type feed as it comes into flower.

When does georgia blue speedwell normally bloom?