Veronica prostrata Mrs Holt

Veronica prostrata 'Mrs Holt' is a delightful form of Veronica prostrata, native to the alpine mountains of Europe. The abundant and pastel flowering of this charming perennial ground cover is a delight in late spring. It bears numerous spikes of small pale lilac-pink star-shaped flowers. More generous in moist soil, it sometimes blooms again during the summer. A very hardy, carefree, and low-maintenance plant. It is perfect for rockeries, borders, and even containers.

Veronica prostrata, also known as Veronica rupestris, is a perennial plant with rooting stems from the Plantaginaceae family. It is native to central and southern Europe where it grows among bushes in meadows and clearings, and on grassy and open embankments. 'Mrs Holt' is an English cultivar appreciated for its pink flowering. It develops by forming numerous prostrate branches spread in a circle. They are upright at the level of the inflorescence, reaching about 10 to 12cm (4 to 5in) in height. Each stem emits roots at the nodes, allowing the plant to cover the ground over an area of at least 30 to 40cm (12 to 16in) in diameter, much more over time. The stem is solid and covered with small white hairs. The light green foliage is evergreen depending on the severity of the winter. It is composed of opposite, fairly elongated, entire leaves, 2.5cm (1in) long and 1cm (0.4in) wide. Both sides of the leaves are pubescent and the leaf edge is often slightly rolled up on itself. In May-June, the plant produces numerous inflorescences in conical clusters of deep pink buds at the end of the upright stems, which open into small light-pink flowers with 4 petals, 0.6cm (0in) in diameter. The flowers first bloom at the base of the spikes, then gradually open up to the top of the inflorescence.

Veronica prostrata 'Mrs Holt' is naturally suited for ornamenting rather grassy rockeries, for example, reconstructed alpine meadows, but also thrives in large sunny embankments. You can plant in ground that is occasionally dry, as it tolerates water shortage quite well. However, dry conditions will affect its floribundity. It will be very useful and beautiful along a pathway, planted en masse and bordered by lady's mantle or silverweed, in a rockery alongside small chamomiles (Chamaemelum nobile, Anthemis tinctoria, Anthemis cretica), or at the edge of a flower bed, in the company of Hieracium pilosella, Globularia repens, Antennaria dioica 'Rubra', Pulsatilla, Teucrium chamaedrys, or even Potentilla nitida.