A highly underused perennial is veronica. It is a wonderful front or mid-border plant for any garden because of its hardiness, disease resistance and ever blooming spikes of flowers.

Although veronicas come in colors such as pink, white, purple and blue, it is for its electric blue or rich purple flowers that I grow it. One of my favorite veronicas, ‘Sunny Border Blue’, is a clump forming perennial with crinkled dark green leaves and tubular dark blue/violet flowers from early summer to late fall. It is hardy in USDA Zones 4-8.

A mat forming variety, Veronica peduncularis ‘Georgia Blue’ is a mat forming, prostrate vigorous growing perennial that produces deep blue flowers with small white eyes from early spring through summer.

Veronicas thrive in partial shade to full sun in moist, well-drained soils. Remember to deadhead spent stalks for continual bloom.

Contact Fran Sorin at fransorin.com.