Pretty spires of upright clusters of florets, the scented deep blooms of these lovely plants are not only long-lasting pollinator-friendly blossoms but have a world of their own perks that set them apart from each other!
With the exception of Veronica which is in the Plantain family, Russian Sage, Salvia, and Lavender are in the broad Mint Family (Lamiaceae) that includes Catmints, Spearmints, Peppermints, Catnip, many kinds of Herbs, and more. Sages, Salvias, and Lavender plants all carry the family aromatic leaves, square stems, and long-lasting upright flower clusters. Veronica are similar but without the aroma, have round stems, and glossy leaves.
Russian Sage, Veronica, Lavender, and Salvia can appear to be very similar at first glance, but there are so many nuanced differences that will make one better for your space compared to the others. Featuring nectar-rich blossoms, and long-lasting color, these fantastic plants each have their own unique niche in your sun garden!
Named by the Russian botanist Karelin about 1840 after B. A. Perovski, the Turkestani governor of the Russian province of Orenburg, however, Russian Sage is neither a Russian native nor a true Sage. It is actually native to Afghanistan, Pakistan, and throughout higher elevations of Tibet, but has been a garden favorite since the mid-1800s!
Loving full sun and having low moisture needs once established, these are fantastic in Cottage Gardens, commercial sites, Mediterranean and Xeric gardens, as well as in cutting gardens! Their low-maintenance nature means Russian Sages are fantastic en masse, as back-of-the-border accents, in the sidewalk or street-side hell strip, as prominent specimens, and in winding rows or drifts.
The flowers are backed by upright mounds of gray-green to silvery aromatic foliage that resembles lavender leaves. The sturdy stems won’t fall flat and carry the Mint family square shape. By summer these perennials form clouds of blue to purple blooms that last and last!
There are both perennial Salvia and “annual” Salvia known as Bedding Sage in this broad family of plants. Pineapple Sage, Gentian Sage, Mexican Sage, and Scarlet Sage are actually Salvia plants! Even the Common Sage culinary herb that is a common kitchen staple is Salvia! With flowers reminiscent of Butterfly Bushes, these flowering ornamentals are just radiant!
The annual Salvia are common seasonal container garden plants with larger petals and smaller-sized foliage mounds but can be perennials in frost-free climates of USDA zones 8-10.
Annual or Bedding Salvia has more vegetative foliage that sometimes lacks the stronger aromatic qualities of the other Mint-family plants, and the larger more colorful array of blossoms (ranging from white, red, pink, purple, and yellow) are showier. They also handle sun and heat beautifully!
While their perennial counterparts are incredibly cold-hardy down to zone 3, these reliable perennials are a boon to bees and butterflies! Perennial Salvias have very aromatic blooms and foliage, and an array of flat mat-forming mounds to upright growing clumps. Both forms can gradually spread into polite colonies in the sun garden!
Salvia has lipped and lobed petals that create a “landing zone” for pollinators – making it one of the top stops for pollinating insects! The flower spikes of the Salvia bloom profusely through the summer.
The most aromatic and beloved of them all, the Lavender plant is another Mint family flowering plant with smaller but wonderfully fragrant flower clusters on tall, slender stems. From the darker calyxes, the lipped petals stand out like flags! These pollinator-friendly blooms range from purple to blue to lavender and white.
The silvery to sage-green foliage and square stems have enraptured poets and literature with their fragrance that somehow is both relaxing and invigorating at the same time! Clean and classic, the flowers and leaves have been used for culinary purposes, crafts, and floral design for centuries!
The many types of Lavender and hybrid Lavender, including French varieties, Spanish Lavender, English Lavender, Portuguese, and Wooly Lavender. All look fantastic in the Rock garden, in cut flower borders, herb and Kitchen gardens, and Pollinator borders alike! Some of the most popular Lavender plants include:
Xeric and Mediterranean landscapes are especially favorable for Lavender since they despise cold wet weather and soggy conditions. The rounded mounds of foliage look incredible and the summer blooms will always have Bees and butterflies visiting in the sun. Lavender has many health benefits, is a tasty addition to your diet, and the medicine cabinet and the oil are an aromatherapy must-have!
Unlike the long slender candles of Veronica, or the large, fuller blooms that Salvias has, Lavender has tighter terminal flowers and is much smaller in stature than Russian Sage.
The Veronica plant (Plantaginaceae) is the largest genus in the flowering plant family and includes about 500 different species and hybrid crosses. Veronica can also go by the names of Speedwell, Birds Eye, and Gypsyweed and is in the Plantain family.
Veronica blooms are tightly packed spires that are called candles, blooming from the bottom up with airy sprays of little anthers that make each tiny floret look fizzy! They open from the bottom up, sometimes resulting in the tips of the blooms appearing green while the lower flowers are blooming. The flowers come in white, blue, pink, and purple and can be herbaceous annuals, perennials, or small shrubs!
The showy flowers and attractive green, shiny foliage provide color well into the fall, the strong flowering stems of these plants are striking when planted in groups.
Use the taller Veronica varieties for Cut flowers, borders, and tall focal points. Low-growing Veronicas are suited for containers, as groundcovers and border edging!
All Veronica look great in Cottage plantings, and Xeric gardens and combine well with other plants in beds and borders! Pollinators adore these blooms and the upright round stems are backed by a mound of ornate green leaves.
Plant in the spring and provide well-drained soil with full sun to partial shade. This sturdy plant can take Clay or heavy, wet soils as long the soil is in a well-drained area.
Veronica is a classic garden flower loved for its spiky upright blooms in shades of blue, purple, pink and white. The toothed green foliage also makes a distinctive statement. While veronica has a unique beauty, there are several other plants that share some similar visual qualities.
These lookalike plants may mimic veronica in their growth habit, leaf texture, or floral display. But upon closer inspection, each imposter has defining features setting it apart from true veronica.
Here are 9 veronica lookalikes and how to tell them apart:
1. Salvia
Like veronica, many salvias produce long spikes of tubular flowers in blue, purple, pink or white. However, salvia stems are square rather than round The leaves are also aromatic when crushed, unlike veronica Salvias tend to bloom later in summer compared to veronica.
2. Penstemon
Penstemons can resemble veronica when not in bloom. But their tubular flowers have two lips and prominent stamens giving a bearded appearance. Penstemon foliage is smooth while veronica leaves are toothed.
3. Lavender
Lavender has gray-green fragrant foliage like some veronicas. But true lavender bears its flowers on vertical whorls up the stalk, not a single dense spike. The leaves are also smooth-edged and narrower.
4. Catmint
Catmint produces loose spikes of blue/white flowers reminiscent of some veronicas. However, nepeta foliage is aromatic and more scalloped along the leaf margins. The flower stalks are also less densely packed.
5. Bee Balm
With domed flower heads in pinks, purples and reds, bee balms look nothing like veronica in bloom. But their toothed leaves can resemble some veronicas when not flowering.
6. Garden Phlox
Garden and creeping phlox have upright stems or mat-forming foliage like veronica. But phlox blossoms are five-petaled and clustered, not tubular spikes along stalks.
7. Cranesbill Geranium
The deeply cut, toothed leaves of geraniums like ‘Rozanne’ can mimic veronica foliage when not blooming. But geraniums have open, 5-petaled flowers instead of tubular spikes.
8. Blue Star
Amsonia features starry periwinkle blue flower clusters reminiscent of some veronicas. However, its foliage is smooth-edged and willow-like rather than toothed. The blooms are also more loosely arranged.
9. Mullein
Mullein can resemble tall veronica species with its yellow flower spires. But verbascum leaves are woolly rather than smooth. The flowers are also less densely packed on the stalks, with protruding colorful stamens.
While sharing some visual similarities in form, foliage or blooms, each imposter plant has distinctive characteristics setting it apart from the real veronica. Subtle differences in leaf texture, flower shape and color, fragrances and growth habits help distinguish lookalikes when observed closely.
So the next time you spot a plant resembling veronica, take a closer look to confirm its identifying traits before making the call. Careful observation will reveal the many veronica lookalikes commonly mistaken for the real thing.
Companion Plants for Veronica in Hot Gardens
Veronica thrives with full sun exposure and good drainage. It is drought tolerant once established, requiring little watering or maintenance. This makes veronica well-suited for hot, sunny gardens.
Several other plants share veronica’s preference for heat and sun. Combining these resilient companions makes for low-maintenance gardens that flourish through summer:
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Lamb’s Ear: The soft, velvety leaves of lamb’s ear contrast nicely against veronica’s spiky foliage. It thrives in dry conditions.
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Purple Coneflower: Iconic coneflowers with bright petals are tough perennials resistant to heat and drought.
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Salvia: With colorful tubular blooms, this aromatic plant needs full sun and good drainage like veronica.
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Red Valerian: Bright red flowers on this hardy plant complement veronica’s cool tones. It tolerates poor, sandy soils.
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Black-eyed Susans: Cheery yellow petals make these flowers pop against blue/purple veronica. Once established, they need minimal watering.
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Daylily: Vibrant, heat-loving blooms come in a variety of hues. Extend flowering time by planting early, mid and late-blooming varieties together.
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Sage: Available in blue, purple and pink shades, sage flowers complement veronica nicely. It flourishes with full sun and needs little watering.
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Lavender: With fragrant gray-green foliage and vertical whorls of flowers, lavender thrives alongside veronica in hot gardens.
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Artemisia: Finely cut, silver-gray foliage provides nice contrast to veronica. It loves dry conditions.
Pairing veronica with other heat and drought-tolerant companions makes for vibrant, low-maintenance gardens. Choose plants suited for your USDA zone that enjoy the same growing conditions. Then relax and watch your sunny garden thrive with minimal work needed.
Key Takeaways:
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Several plants like salvia, penstemon and catmint resemble veronica but have subtle distinguishing features.
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Lookalikes may mimic veronica’s growth habit, leaf texture or floral display but differ on close inspection.
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Careful observation reveals differences in bloom shape, foliage, fragrances and other traits.
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Pair veronica with other heat-loving plants like coneflower, lamb’s ear and sage for sunny gardens.
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Choosing companions suited for your zone and site conditions results in low-maintenance gardens.
So inspect lookalikes closely and select suitable companions to highlight veronica’s beauty while minimizing upkeep in your garden. Paying attention to details will help avoid mix-ups with imposters so veronica can flourish amid perfect planting partners.
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Charlotte Weidner | February 1, 2024
Pretty spires of upright clusters of florets, the scented deep blooms of these lovely plants are not only long-lasting pollinator-friendly blossoms but have a world of their own perks that set them apart from each other!
With the exception of Veronica which is in the Plantain family, Russian Sage, Salvia, and Lavender are in the broad Mint Family (Lamiaceae) that includes Catmints, Spearmints, Peppermints, Catnip, many kinds of Herbs, and more. Sages, Salvias, and Lavender plants all carry the family aromatic leaves, square stems, and long-lasting upright flower clusters. Veronica are similar but without the aroma, have round stems, and glossy leaves.
Learn the difference between these gorgeous flowering perennial plants!
Russian Sage, Veronica, Lavender, and Salvia can appear to be very similar at first glance, but there are so many nuanced differences that will make one better for your space compared to the others. Featuring nectar-rich blossoms, and long-lasting color, these fantastic plants each have their own unique niche in your sun garden!
Named by the Russian botanist Karelin about 1840 after B. A. Perovski, the Turkestani governor of the Russian province of Orenburg, however, Russian Sage is neither a Russian native nor a true Sage. It is actually native to Afghanistan, Pakistan, and throughout higher elevations of Tibet, but has been a garden favorite since the mid-1800s!
- Russian Sage
- Denim n Lace Russian Sage
- Lacey Blue Russian Sage
- Blue Steel Russian Sage
- Blue Jean Baby Russian Sage
Loving full sun and having low moisture needs once established, these are fantastic in Cottage Gardens, commercial sites, Mediterranean and Xeric gardens, as well as in cutting gardens! Their low-maintenance nature means Russian Sages are fantastic en masse, as back-of-the-border accents, in the sidewalk or street-side hell strip, as prominent specimens, and in winding rows or drifts.
- Russian Sage blooms from July through October
- Terminal multi-branched lavender upright spires
- Russian Sage differentiates itself with foliage that is more fern-like
- Full sun & low-moisture needs
- Russian Sage is more shrub-like and taller, reaching heights of 3-5 feet
- Handles hot and xeric sites
- Large airy cloud-like upright mounds
The flowers are backed by upright mounds of gray-green to silvery aromatic foliage that resembles lavender leaves. The sturdy stems won’t fall flat and carry the Mint family square shape. By summer these perennials form clouds of blue to purple blooms that last and last!
There are both perennial Salvia and “annual” Salvia known as Bedding Sage in this broad family of plants. Pineapple Sage, Gentian Sage, Mexican Sage, and Scarlet Sage are actually Salvia plants! Even the Common Sage culinary herb that is a common kitchen staple is Salvia! With flowers reminiscent of Butterfly Bushes, these flowering ornamentals are just radiant!
- Salvia Snow Hill – A white flowering form
- May Night Salvia – Dark purple blooms and darker foliage
- Blue Hill Salvia – Almost neon azure petals
- Pineapple Sage Plant – A red flowering Salvia for hot climates or as an annual accent
- Bumbleberry Salvia – Dramatic rosy purple petals and dark calyxes
- Blue Marvel Salvia – Deep dark mysterious spires
The annual Salvia are common seasonal container garden plants with larger petals and smaller-sized foliage mounds but can be perennials in frost-free climates of USDA zones 8-10.
Annual or Bedding Salvia has more vegetative foliage that sometimes lacks the stronger aromatic qualities of the other Mint-family plants, and the larger more colorful array of blossoms (ranging from white, red, pink, purple, and yellow) are showier. They also handle sun and heat beautifully!
While their perennial counterparts are incredibly cold-hardy down to zone 3, these reliable perennials are a boon to bees and butterflies! Perennial Salvias have very aromatic blooms and foliage, and an array of flat mat-forming mounds to upright growing clumps. Both forms can gradually spread into polite colonies in the sun garden!
- Salvia blooms from June through September
- Full sun and very well-drained soil
- Moderate to low moisture needs once established
- Salvia ranges from 12 to 24 inches tall
- Spreading mat-forming mounds and upright varieties
- Can rebloom in the late summer or fall
Salvia has lipped and lobed petals that create a “landing zone” for pollinators – making it one of the top stops for pollinating insects! The flower spikes of the Salvia bloom profusely through the summer.
The most aromatic and beloved of them all, the Lavender plant is another Mint family flowering plant with smaller but wonderfully fragrant flower clusters on tall, slender stems. From the darker calyxes, the lipped petals stand out like flags! These pollinator-friendly blooms range from purple to blue to lavender and white.
The silvery to sage-green foliage and square stems have enraptured poets and literature with their fragrance that somehow is both relaxing and invigorating at the same time! Clean and classic, the flowers and leaves have been used for culinary purposes, crafts, and floral design for centuries!
The many types of Lavender and hybrid Lavender, including French varieties, Spanish Lavender, English Lavender, Portuguese, and Wooly Lavender. All look fantastic in the Rock garden, in cut flower borders, herb and Kitchen gardens, and Pollinator borders alike! Some of the most popular Lavender plants include:
- English Munstead Lavender
- Sensational!® Lavender
- Phenomenal French Lavender
- Otto Quast Spanish Lavender
- Grosso Lavender
Xeric and Mediterranean landscapes are especially favorable for Lavender since they despise cold wet weather and soggy conditions. The rounded mounds of foliage look incredible and the summer blooms will always have Bees and butterflies visiting in the sun. Lavender has many health benefits, is a tasty addition to your diet, and the medicine cabinet and the oil are an aromatherapy must-have!
- Lavender blooms from late spring until late summer
- Full sun & well-drained soil
- Low moisture once established
- Loves warm winters & hot summers
- Terminal flower clusters at the tops of slender stems
Unlike the long slender candles of Veronica, or the large, fuller blooms that Salvias has, Lavender has tighter terminal flowers and is much smaller in stature than Russian Sage.
The Veronica plant (Plantaginaceae) is the largest genus in the flowering plant family and includes about 500 different species and hybrid crosses. Veronica can also go by the names of Speedwell, Birds Eye, and Gypsyweed and is in the Plantain family.
Veronica blooms are tightly packed spires that are called candles, blooming from the bottom up with airy sprays of little anthers that make each tiny floret look fizzy! They open from the bottom up, sometimes resulting in the tips of the blooms appearing green while the lower flowers are blooming. The flowers come in white, blue, pink, and purple and can be herbaceous annuals, perennials, or small shrubs!
The showy flowers and attractive green, shiny foliage provide color well into the fall, the strong flowering stems of these plants are striking when planted in groups.
- First Lady Veronica – A white flowering Veronica
- First Glory Veronica – Royal blue candles
- Purpleicious Veronica – Rosy purple blooms
- Sunny Border Blue Veronica – A tall lavender blooms
- Giles Van Hees Veronica – Soft pink fluffy spires
Use the taller Veronica varieties for Cut flowers, borders, and tall focal points. Low-growing Veronicas are suited for containers, as groundcovers and border edging!
All Veronica look great in Cottage plantings, and Xeric gardens and combine well with other plants in beds and borders! Pollinators adore these blooms and the upright round stems are backed by a mound of ornate green leaves.
- Veronica usually blooms in early summer and lasts until autumn
- Darker usually glossy green leaves
- Leaves lack any aromatic fragrance, but the flowers have a sweet scent
- Long candle-like spires of tiny blooms, sometimes branched at the base
- Tends to be smaller in stature, ranging from 8 to 15 inches tall depending on variety
- Upright clumps can rebloom
- Handles cold and heat
- Full sun and well-drained soil
- Prefers more moisture than Lavender, Sage, and Salvia
Plant in the spring and provide well-drained soil with full sun to partial shade. This sturdy plant can take Clay or heavy, wet soils as long the soil is in a well-drained area.
Beautiful Variations On A Theme
Gorgeous no matter what size or shape they come in, these beautiful flowering perennial plants are sure to become your favorite once you have one or all of them growing in your landscape!
Hardy and adaptable, these sun-loving and pollinator-magnets will shine in the garden and the vase, are easy to grow, and are low-maintenance gems no matter which you choose! Check out our #ProPlantTips for Caring for your perennials and squeeze every ounce of enjoyment from these beautiful specimens!
Check out all the quality perennials, annuals, and more to enliven your yard and enjoy the convenience of having it shipped to your doorstep from Nature Hills!
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SPIKED SPEEDWELL | Veronica spicata | Perennials | Plant of the Week
FAQ
What plants are similar to Veronica?
Sages, Salvias, and Lavender plants all carry the family aromatic leaves, square stems, and long-lasting upright flower clusters. Veronica are similar but without the aroma, have round stems, and glossy leaves.
What’s the difference between Veronica and speedwell?
Most veronicas provide a strong vertical accent in the garden. The small flowers are borne on upright, slender racemes, flowering from the bottom to the top. Creeping speedwell produces single small light blue flowers in the spring and is a groundcover.
Should I plant lavender or Russian sage?
…But Russian sage can handle more water (and lavender thrives in poor soil) Lavender can’t stand much water. Russian sage, however, can grow in dry-to-medium soil. And while both plants can deal with less-than-ideal soil conditions, for lavender, the poorer the quality of the soil (even sand), the better.
Is Veronica speedwell invasive?
Some speedwell varieties are considered invasive, particularly creeping speedwell (Veronica arvensis) and ivyleaf speedwell (Veronica hederifolia). These can quickly spread and outcompete native plants.