Veronica longifolia 'Blauriesin' (long-leaved speedwell) care

Light

Veronica longifolia 'Blauriesin' needs sun on the leaves, not just bright ambient room light. Full sun gives the most flowers and the sturdiest, self-supporting stems. It tolerates light shade but flowers less freely and may grow leggier there. A south or west-facing windowsill in the northern hemisphere is the default; anywhere else, expect the plant to stretch and pale out within a season.

Watering

Water veronica longifolia 'blauriesin' when the top few centimetres of soil are drying, about weekly in summer. The actual day count varies with pot size, light, and season — the finger test (or lifting the pot to feel its weight) is more reliable than a fixed calendar. Empty any drainage saucer afterwards so the pot isn't sitting in water. Likes evenly moist but not waterlogged soil. Water through dry spells, especially while flowering; it has moderate drought tolerance once established but dislikes prolonged drying out.

Soil and pot

Veronica longifolia 'Blauriesin' grows best in moderately fertile, well-drained soil. Performs best in average to fertile, moisture-retentive but free-draining soil. Tolerates most pH levels. Improve heavy clay with organic matter and grit to prevent winter waterlogging. A pot with a working drainage hole is non-negotiable for this species — even free-draining mix will turn soggy in a closed planter. If you love the look of a decorative pot without a hole, use it as a cachepot around an inner nursery pot you can lift out to water.

Humidity and temperature

Veronica longifolia 'Blauriesin' sits happiest at around Ambient outdoor humidity humidity and -29 to 27°C (-20 to 81°F). A hardy border perennial with no humidity requirements; open, airy positions reduce the chance of mildew on the foliage. If you keep the room above year-round and avoid placing the plant near a cold draught, a hot radiator, or an air-conditioning vent, you have already handled the two biggest indoor stressors.

Fertilising

Feed veronica longifolia 'blauriesin' sparingly. Light feeder. A balanced general fertiliser or compost mulch in spring supports steady growth and flowering; avoid excess nitrogen, which can cause floppy stems. Skip fertiliser entirely on a stressed, recently-repotted, or actively wilting plant — fertiliser salts make damage worse, not better. Wait for a round of healthy new growth before resuming a feeding rhythm.

Common problems

Below are the issues we see most often on veronica longifolia 'blauriesin' in the Growli community. Each is annotated with the most common cause so you know where to start.

• Powdery mildew — A common issue on Veronica, worsened by drought stress and poor airflow. Keep soil moist, space plants and remove affected leaves.
• Flopping stems — Rich soil, shade or rain can splay the clump. Grow in full sun, avoid over-feeding, and ring-stake heavy clumps if needed.
• Reduced flowering without deadheading — Spent spikes slow rebloom. Cut back faded flowers promptly to encourage a second flush.
• Root or crown rot — Caused by waterlogged winter soil. Plant in free-draining ground and improve heavy clay with grit and organic matter.

Propagation

Best from division in spring or autumn, as named cultivars do not come true from seed. Basal softwood cuttings also root readily in late spring. Propagation is the cheapest, most satisfying way to expand a collection — and it doubles as insurance against losing a mature plant to an accident. Take a backup cutting once the parent is established and healthy.

Toxicity to pets

Veronica longifolia 'Blauriesin' is mildly toxic to pets. Veronica longifolia is not individually listed on the ASPCA Toxic and Non-Toxic Plants database, so its pet status is unconfirmed; treat with caution and verify with a vet. As with many ornamental perennials, ingestion may cause mild gastrointestinal upset, so discourage pets from grazing it. If you keep cats, dogs, or curious children in the house, weigh placement carefully — a high shelf or a hanging planter is enough for casual safety. For severe ingestion incidents, call your local vet and the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (in the US, 888-426-4435).

Pet-safety status is sourced from the ASPCA Toxic and Non-Toxic Plant List, which catalogues the most-asked-about plants for cats, dogs, and horses.

Veronica longifolia 'Blauriesin' deep-dive guides

Every aspect of veronica longifolia 'blauriesin' care, each with its own calibrated guide:

• Veronica longifolia 'Blauriesin' watering schedule
• Veronica longifolia 'Blauriesin' light requirements
• Best soil mix for veronica longifolia 'blauriesin'
• Veronica longifolia 'Blauriesin' fertilizing guide
• When to repot veronica longifolia 'blauriesin'
• How to propagate veronica longifolia 'blauriesin'
• Veronica longifolia 'Blauriesin' growth rate & size
• Veronica longifolia 'Blauriesin' cold hardiness
• Veronica longifolia 'Blauriesin' temperature & humidity
• Is veronica longifolia 'blauriesin' toxic to cats & dogs?
• Is veronica longifolia 'blauriesin' toxic to cats?
• Is veronica longifolia 'blauriesin' toxic to dogs?
• Getting veronica longifolia 'blauriesin' to bloom

Featured in these plant shortlists

Veronica longifolia 'Blauriesin' qualifies for 4 curated Growli shortlists — each one filtered objectively from our structured plant-care library, so the selection is consistent and checkable:

• Best drought-tolerant houseplants — Houseplants that prefer to dry out — forgiving of forgotten watering and ideal for travel or busy weeks.
• Best flowering houseplants — Indoor plants grown for their blooms — selected from the flowering species in Growli’s plant-care library.
• Best houseplants for full sun — Houseplants that want direct sun — the species for a hot south or west-facing windowsill where shade-lovers scorch.
• Best houseplants for a cool room — Houseplants that tolerate cool conditions down to about 10°C — for an unheated spare room, hallway, porch or a home kept cool.
• Browse all 29 plant shortlists — pet-safe, low-light, drought-tolerant and more

Related guides

Veronica longifolia 'Blauriesin' is also commonly called long-leaved speedwell or Blauriesin veronica.

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