Perfect for adding a vertical accent to planting schemes with their upright flower spikes, a few groups of Veronica growing in your borders brings contrast among neighbouring plants as well as drawing bees in to visit their nectar-rich blooms. You can also grow Veronica plants in large patio containers. Veronica are hardy down to around -10C, so it is safe to plant them outside in spring or autumn. They rarely need additional frost protection in winter. Veronica bare roots or root balls are supplied in spring and autumn. They should be planted in the same season as supplied, ideally within a week of delivery.

How to plant:

—Plant as soon as possible after delivery, ideally within a week. Soak bare roots in water for 3-6 hours prior to planting. Veronica plants supplied as root balls will also require watering straight after delivery.

—Veronica are supplied as either root balls (like a potted plant with soil on the roots) or as bare roots (without soil). You can often plant root-ball veronica plants directly into a clear space in a well cultivated border, depending on the soil type, moisture levels and growing conditions in the border. Avoid planting them directly into a space which could become over-crowded by more established plants. Veronicas supplied as bare roots should be potted up in individual temporary pots with multipurpose compost, this will give them an easy start and then they can be transferred into a border after 1-3 months once they are more established.

—Plant bare roots or root balls so that the root system is fully submerged in the compost, leaving the buds/crown just below the surface. Any young shoots/leaves should be left exposed above the soil surface. Water thoroughly after planting.

—If planting root ball plants directly into a clear border, choose a sunny position with free-draining soil and space the plants 20-30cm apart. Add multipurpose compost to each planting hole to help the new roots grow. If you are planting in containers or potting up bare roots to grow-on, you should use multipurpose compost and a 15-20cm pot for each plant.

—Water-in after planting and continue to water regularly whenever to soil feels dry 3-4cm below the surface.

— Veronica are hardy perennials, there is no need to protect them from frost over winter although newly-potted plants may need some cover during cold snaps.

Aftercare:

—There should be some buds or shoots visible on the plants/bare roots when they are supplied. After planting, the buds or shoots should continue to grow and produce leaves. When planting in autumn, they may produce some initial growth and then become dormant and stop making progress through winter, but resume growing the following spring. If planting in spring, they should continue to grow and produce leaves through spring and summer. They do not always produce flowers in the first year.

—Deadhead the flowers in summer when needed, often this will encourage a second flush of flowers.

—In autumn, cut the stems down to around 5cm from soil surface. The plant will remain in a dormant state through winter and will grow back of its own accord the following spring.

Read further general instructions about planting bare-root perennials