Getting it to bloom

Why won't my Spiked speedwell bloom? (and how to make it flower)

Also called Spiked speedwell, Spike speedwell (Veronica spicata).

More about spiked speedwell

About Spiked speedwell

Veronica spicata · also called Spiked speedwell, Spike speedwell · flowering

A showy, clump-forming perennial producing dense, tapering spikes of small violet-blue (or pink/white in cultivars) flowers from midsummer through early autumn. Native to dry grasslands and rocky slopes across Europe and Asia. Highly attractive to bees and butterflies. Excellent for sunny, well-drained borders and drought-tolerant plantings. Very easy to grow.

Plant type: flowering

Watch for — Short flower spikes from poor light or rich soil: Plants in too much shade or over-fertilised ground produce taller, lax stems with few flowers. Ensure full sun and lean soil. Divide clumps every 3–4 years in spring to maintain vigour; old congested clumps flower less freely.

The reasons spiked speedwell isn't blooming

Almost every non-blooming spiked 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 spiked 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 spiked speedwell to flower

Maximise sun. Give spiked 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 spiked speedwell and get the feeding right with the spiked 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

Spiked 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 spiked speedwell care brief and its watering schedule — a stressed, badly watered plant rarely has the energy to flower at all.

Spiked speedwell blooming — frequently asked questions

Why won't my spiked speedwell flower?

Spiked 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 spiked speedwell bloom?

Give spiked 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 spiked speedwell normally bloom?