Veronica 'First Love'

1 root ball
£12.49
£12.49 each
3 root balls
£29.99
£10.00 each
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6 root balls
£45.99
£7.67 each
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The genus Veronica is named after Saint Veronica, who according to Christian legend, wiped the face of Jesus with her veil as he carried the cross, and an image of his face was miraculously imprinted upon it.

A beautiful and long-flowering perennial, 'First Love' is a superb variety of Speedwell that brings months of intense colour to the garden. It forms a neat, compact clump of healthy green foliage from which arise numerous upright, slender spires of densely packed, star-shaped flowers. The colour is a brilliant and eye-catching shade of vivid, clear pink, providing a strong vertical accent in the border. A fantastic feature of this plant is its continuous blooming; if deadheaded regularly, it will produce wave after wave of its vibrant flower spikes from early summer right through to the autumn. It is a magnet for bees, butterflies, and other pollinators, and its tidy, well-behaved habit makes it an excellent choice for the front or middle of a sunny border, as well as for container planting.

Botanical name Veronica spicata 'First Love'
Flower colour Intense, clear pink
Established height 30-40 cm
Established spread 30-40 cm
Plant spacing 5-7 plants per m²
Leaf colour Mid-green
Habit Clump-forming, upright
Life cycle Herbaceous Perennial
Hardiness Fully Hardy (H6)
Years to establish 1st-2nd year
Sunlight Full sun
Position Exposed or sheltered
Suitable for Borders, Cottage gardens, Containers, Cut flower gardens
Soil acidity Any
Soil moisture Moist but well-drained
Soil type Loam, Sandy, Chalky
RHS Award (AGM) No
Growing skill Easy to grow
Pollinator-friendly Yes, highly
Deer resistant Yes

Where to Plant:

This beautiful Speedwell produces dense, upright spikes of vibrant pink flowers throughout the summer months, providing a strong vertical accent in the garden. For the best display and a sturdy, compact habit, it requires a position in full sun. It thrives in average, moist but well-drained soil and is an excellent choice for the front or middle of a sunny herbaceous border. It is also a fantastic plant for attracting bees and other beneficial pollinators.

How to Plant:

You can plant container-grown specimens in spring or summer. If planting now, ensure it is watered regularly until it is well established. Dig a hole that is the same depth as the pot and roughly twice its width. Gently ease the plant from its container and place it in the hole, making sure the top of the rootball is level with the surrounding soil. Backfill, firm gently around the plant, and water in well. Space individual plants about 30cm apart.

Aftercare:

To encourage a longer flowering season, it is important to deadhead the plant as the first flowers fade. Once the main central flower spike has finished blooming, cut it back to the base of the plant. This will often stimulate the growth of smaller, secondary flower spikes from the sides. The whole plant can be cut back to ground level in the autumn, or you can leave the dead stems for winter interest and cut them back in early spring.

Planting and Flowering Calendar

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Key Features

Packed in paper

Packed peat-free

Great for Shade

Attracts wildlife

Low maintenance

Perfect for pots

Good for cutting

Veronica 'First Love' - Harding & Bloom

Veronica 'First Love'

£12.49

£12.49

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Kind Words from Our Gardeners

Arrived quickly and well-packaged. Planted them in some pots on the patio and they all came up. Look beautiful. Thank you!

Careane Wallace

Oxfordshire, UK

The bulbs arrived beautifully packaged and you could just tell they were excellent quality. We had the most wonderful display of daffodils this spring on our patio. Simply stunning. Will definitely be ordering again

David P

Kent, UK

I ordered the mixed hyacinth collection and the scent in my garden this April was absolutely heavenly. Every single bulb produced a strong, beautiful flower and the colours were stunning together. A fantastic purchase, I'll be back for more next year!

Eleanor R

Somerset