Getting it to bloom
Why won't my Long-leaved speedwell bloom? (and how to make it flower)
Also called Long-leaved speedwell, Garden speedwell, Longleaf speedwell (Veronica longifolia).
More about long-leaved speedwell
About Long-leaved speedwell
Veronica longifolia · also called Long-leaved speedwell, Garden speedwell · flowering
A robust hardy perennial producing tall, tapering spikes of violet-blue flowers from midsummer into autumn. Thrives in full sun with moist, well-drained soil and is reliably cold-hardy to USDA zone 4. Excellent for borders and pollinator gardens, with minimal maintenance once established. Divide every three to four years to maintain vigour.
Plant type: flowering
The reasons long-leaved speedwell isn't blooming
Almost every non-blooming long-leaved 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 long-leaved 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 long-leaved speedwell to flower
- Maximise sun. Give long-leaved 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 long-leaved speedwell and get the feeding right with the long-leaved 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
Long-leaved 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 long-leaved speedwell care brief and its watering schedule — a stressed, badly watered plant rarely has the energy to flower at all.
Long-leaved speedwell blooming — frequently asked questions
Why won't my long-leaved speedwell flower?
Long-leaved 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 long-leaved speedwell bloom?
Give long-leaved 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 long-leaved speedwell normally bloom?
Long-leaved 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 long-leaved 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 long-leaved speedwell flowering?
Feeding long-leaved 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
- Long-leaved speedwell care — the full brief (light, water, humidity, problems, pet safety)
- Long-leaved speedwell light needs — usually the first thing to fix for flowers
- Long-leaved 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 2566 bloom guides in the Growli library