Veronica allionii aka Allioni's Speedwell

Veronica allionii is also known as Allioni's speedwell. It belongs to the plant family Plantaginaceae. This low plant lives for years and spreads as it grows. The RHS says it forms a mat. Chicago describes a round clump instead. The sources do not state its native range. The RHS says it is not native to Britain or Ireland.

Plants have a woody base. Their stems spread out or grow upwards. Small green leaves are narrow and oval to elliptic in shape. The RHS gives a height of 0.33 feet [0.1 metres]. Chicago reports taller plants that reach 1 foot [0.3 metres]. The RHS gives a spread of 0.33–1.64 feet [0.1–0.5 metres]. Plants reach full size in two to five years. The RHS gives two accounts of leaf loss that clash. Its main text says plants keep their leaves year-round. Its leaf entry says they shed them each year.

Small flowers form spikes at the tips of the stems. The RHS says the flowers are purple and open in summer. Chicago lists blue blooms from May through August. Together, these reports give a range from blue to purple. They also give a broad span of time for bloom. Neither source describes the fruit or its value as food. Neither gives facts on parts people can eat or on toxicity. The records do not name animals that pollinate the flowers.

Grow this speedwell in full sun and soil that drains well. The RHS suggests gritty soil, including chalk, loam, and sand. It grows in acid, neutral, or alkaline soil. Chicago says it needs a moderate amount of water. Data drawn from the RHS allows dry-to-moist soil. The RHS gives it a winter hardiness rating of H6. Chicago's archived plant record lists USDA zones 2–9. These ratings use different regional scales. Keep them separate.

Its low form suits rock gardens, gravel beds, and troughs. The RHS also lists pots, banks, slopes, and ground cover. It names wildlife gardens and an alpine house as other sites. Chicago suggests planting in borders and reports that it resists deer. The RHS says gardeners can grow it from seed. It says plants need no pruning and have few pest problems. Fungal leaf spot can still harm the leaves. Plants may also have powdery mildew or downy mildew.