Growth and Flowering Characteristics of 20 <i>Veronica</i> Species

Abstract

The ornamental performance of 20 Veronica species was evaluated. The experiment was carried out in a greenhouse at the division of plant resources, Korea National Arboretum, for two years using 20 Veronica species. Veronica species have a variety of characteristics, with different growth and flowering patterns. Twenty Veronica species were classified into four groups based on plant form and height. V. armena and V. repens were classified as running (< 10 cm), 4 species, including V. gentianoides ‘Little Blues’, were classified as ascending-short (10 cm - 29 cm), 7 species, including V. gentianoides ‘Blue Streak’, were classified as ascending-middle (30 cm - 60 cm), and 7 species, including V. incana, were classified as ascending-long (60 cm <). Almost all the leaves were green; however, the leaves of V. incana and V. incana ‘Silbersee’ had white hair. The number of floral axes ranged from 5.3 to 80.7, while the number of inflorescences ranged from 4.5 to 67.3. The f lowers bloomed f rom early March to mid-June. The inflorescence types included receme, spike, and cyme. The inflorescence colors were purple (13 species, including V. armena), pink (V. longifolia ‘Pink Shades’ and V. spicata ‘Pink Goblin’), and white (5 species, including V. gentianoides ‘Blue Streak’). V. longifolia ‘Blue Shades’, V. spicata ‘Blue Bouquet’, and V. subsessilis ‘Blue Pyramid’ all bloomed in 2017. V. armena, V. gentianoides ‘Little Blues’, V. longifolia ‘Alba’, V. prostrata ‘Nestor’, V. spicata, V. spicata ‘Alba’, and V. spicata ‘Sightseeing’ only partially bloomed. V. gentianoides ‘Blue Streak’, V. incana, V. incana ‘Silbersee’, V. longifolia ‘Pink Shades’, V. orchidea ‘Blue Fingers’, V. repens, V. schmidtiana, V. spicata f. Nana ‘Blue Carpet’, V. spicata ‘Pink Goblin’, and V. teucrium ‘Roy al B lue’ d id not bloom. However, all plants bloomed in 2018.