|
Physical description: This herbaceous perennial plant with a horizontally,
mat-forming growth spreads indefinitely and can reach a height
of 4 in. The evergreen leaves are dark green, toothed about the
edges, and pubescent on both sides. They can reach ½ in.
long. Flowering occurs in late spring to early summer, and the
visual effect of ¼ in. wide, light blue flowers almost
completely covering the foliage is very attractive. Flowers may
also be lavender or white. The fruit is an ornamental brownish
capsule.
Optimal growing conditions: Creeping speedwell tolerates a wide range of
soils, but performs best in lightly to moderately acidic soils
and absolutely cannot tolerate saturated soils. The plant prefers
full sun to partial shade in moist, well-drained soils, and can
endure temperatures below zero. Growth is best in fertile soils,
but the plant is fairly tolerant of low soil fertility. Growth
is rapid if conditions are good. Winter hardiness: Zones 5-7.
Susceptibility to pests and diseases:
Diseases like downy mildew, leaf
spot, leaf galls, root rot, and leaf smut can be problematic.
Concerning pests, mites, Checkerspot butterfly, soil mealybugs,
and southern root-knot nematode may do some damage.
Use:
Creeping speedwell is useful as groundcover or in rock gardens,
especially when it can scramble over rocks or walls.
|
