Veronica longifolia Skyward™ Blue ('Balskywlue') PP34922

– Moderate

– Reaches mature size within one full growing season

– Attracts bees, butterflies, and hoverflies

– Deer and rabbit resistant

– Spring: foliage emerges and forms tidy upright clumps

– Summer: long, blue spires begin blooming midseason

– Fall: flowering may continue into early fall with deadheading

– Winter: foliage dies back; plant goes dormant

– Mid-border plantings

– Pollinator gardens

– Vertical accent in perennial beds

– Cut flowers

– Narrow, lance-shaped, medium green leaves

– Arranged in pairs along upright stems

– Forms a dense, tidy clump of vertical foliage

– Tall, bright sky-blue flower spikes held upright above the foliage

– Spires bloom from bottom to top, adding weeks of floral color

– Bloom period: midsummer into early fall (July–September)

– Adds strong vertical presence and vibrant color to borders

– Deadhead spent blooms regularly to extend flowering

– Cut back by half after main bloom to encourage tidy regrowth or possible rebloom

– Trim to ground in early spring before new growth emerges

– Prefers evenly moist, well-drained soil

– Tolerates brief dry periods once established

– Water during prolonged heat or drought for best performance

– Full sun (6+ hours/day) is ideal for best flowering and form

– Can tolerate light shade, but may reduce flowering density

– Excellent for cut flowers; harvest when lower florets open

– Long-lasting in fresh arrangements

– Dried seed heads are not typically used ornamentally

– Apply balanced slow-release fertilizer in spring

– Supplemental feeding midseason may enhance rebloom in poor soils

– Avoid over-fertilizing, which may reduce bloom density

– Pollinated by bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects

– High nectar production makes it an excellent pollinator plant

– Echinacea purpurea – similar height and pollinator appeal

– Achillea millefolium – flat flower heads complement spiky blooms

– Rudbeckia fulgida – golden color contrast

– Salvia nemorosa – similar upright structure with earlier bloom

– Panicum virgatum – airy grasses for texture and movement