The Ultimate Guide to Veronica

This popular summer wedding flower can sometimes resemble lavender but has a much richer history and tale. The veronica flower, also known as speedwell, is found all over the world and has spanned the ages with tales of healing and protection.

With links to early Christianity and Ancient Rome, this delicate flower is far from simple. Instead, it signifies loyalty and devotion – among many other things – making it the ideal choice for wedding arrangements.

Veronica meaning and symbolism

The veronica flower has many meanings, some of which are deeply rooted in the history of Christianity.

The name of the flower is linked to Saint Veronica, one of the women who travelled with Jesus to Mount Calvary for the crucifixion. She wore a veil and passed it to Jesus so he could wipe his face while carrying the heavy cross. When Jesus handed Veronica back the cloth it miraculously had a vision of his face imprinted on it. This cloth become a relic of the early church.

The veronica flower is said to present the eyes of Jesus, giving this humble plant a powerful symbolism of protection, healing, support and joy.

This low-maintenance perennial also represents loyalty, fidelity and love – and, when used in a single flower bouquet, signifies your devotion to someone else.

Alongside the symbolism associated with the flower, its colour can also have a significant impact on the meaning presented to your recipient. For instance, the purple blossoms can signify royalty and elegance, whereas the white flowers symbolise purity, innocence, healing, and new beginnings.

The symbolism of veronica means it makes the ideal bouquet for wishing a speedy recovery, as well as weddings and landmark life celebrations.

Veronica facts

• The veronica flower is also known as speedwell. In fact, speedwell is part of the veronica genus which is the largest in the Plantaginaceae flowering plant family. Altogether there are over 500 species of Veronica.
• It’s native to North America, Asia, Europe, Africa, the Mediterranean and the Middle East. Found in such abundance across different climates, it’s perhaps no surprise that veronica is a low-maintenance garden plant.
• Alongside speedwell, veronica has also been known as Bird’s Eye and Gypsy Weed.
• There are three types of veronica flower – herbaceous perennials, dwarf veronicas and moisture-loving veronicas. Each one prefers slightly different growing conditions.
• The veronica is closely related to foxgloves, snapdragons and beard tongues.
• Alongside its links to Christianity the veronica can also be traced back to Ancient Rome, where it was used as a medicinal plant.
• With this rich and diverse history, this simple plant has many hidden connotations and meanings that can be represented by its tiny, delicate flowers.

Types of veronica

With a long history and meanings revolving around healing, protection, loyalty and devotion, there’s more to the veronica than meets the eye. This fascinating plant can also mean so much more depending on the colour.

When to plant veronica

Veronica flowers are low-maintenance perennials that are attractive to pollinators and free from most pests and diseases. This makes them a popular choice for many gardens.

Reaching an average height of anywhere between 10 and 60cm, they can be grown in a variety of conditions including rockeries, raised beds, borders and pond edges. It's important to plant the correct type of veronica in an environment where it can flourish.

The three types of veronica in the UK include:

• Herbaceous perennials – these plants die back every autumn and regrow in the spring.
• Dwarf veronicas – these low-lying, slender-stemmed plants are suitable for rock gardens.
• Moisture-loving veronicas – these requires boggy soil or shallow water to grow, so are ideal around the edge of ponds.

Signs that the wrong veronica plant has been planted in the wrong environment include the plant suffering from powdery mildew or downy mildew.

Veronicas enjoy the sun and can be planted throughout most of the year. However, the most favourable time to plant is spring or autumn. By late autumn the plants will require cutting back ready for the spring.

If you’re using veronicas in a flower arrangement it’s best to wait for the summer to source your flowers and to keep the veronicas cold before presenting them to help preserve the delicate blossom.