Getting it to bloom
Why won't my Grey Speedwell bloom? (and how to make it flower)
Also called Grey Speedwell, Gray Speedwell (Veronica cinerea).
More about grey speedwell
About Grey Speedwell
Veronica cinerea · also called Grey Speedwell, Gray Speedwell · flowering
Grey Speedwell is a silvery-leaved, mat-forming alpine perennial from Turkey and the Middle East. Its felt-like grey foliage contrasts beautifully with small violet-blue flowers produced in early summer. It excels in rock gardens and dry walls, demanding full sun and perfect drainage. Extremely drought-tolerant and rabbit-resistant.
Plant type: flowering
The reasons grey speedwell isn't blooming
Almost every non-blooming grey 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 grey 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 grey speedwell to flower
- Maximise sun. Give grey 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 grey speedwell and get the feeding right with the grey 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
Grey 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 grey speedwell care brief and its watering schedule — a stressed, badly watered plant rarely has the energy to flower at all.
Grey Speedwell blooming — frequently asked questions
Why won't my grey speedwell flower?
Grey 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 grey speedwell bloom?
Give grey 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 grey speedwell normally bloom?
Grey Speedwell flowers across its growing season (mostly summer) and, kept fed and deadheaded, can bloom for many weeks or right up to frost.
What should I do with grey speedwell after it flowers?
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.
What is the single biggest mistake stopping grey speedwell flowering?
Feeding grey speedwell a high-nitrogen general feed and growing it in too little sun — you get a big leafy plant and almost no flowers.
Keep reading
- Grey Speedwell care — the full brief (light, water, humidity, problems, pet safety)
- Grey Speedwell light needs — usually the first thing to fix for flowers
- Grey Speedwell fertilising — the right feed for buds, not just leaves
- Should I water my plant? The simple check
- Why is my plant wilting? Wet vs dry
- Underwatered plant — signs and rehydration
- Why won't my peace lily bloom?
- Why won't my jade plant bloom?
- Why won't my tomato bloom?
- All 3229 bloom guides in the Growli library