Botanical Name: Veronica ‘Royal Candles’ Common Name: Speedwell Hardiness Zone: Perennial in USDA Zones 4–9; Can Be Treated as a Long-Season Annual in Cooler Climates Size: 18–24" Tall × 12–18" Spread Growth Habit: Upright, Well-Branched, Tidy Clumping Sunlight: Full Sun to Light Shade Soil: Well-Drained, Fertile Soil Water Needs: Moderate; Keep Even Moisture for Best Performance Bloom Season: Late Spring through Summer Fertilizer: Light, Regular Feeding Encourages Strong Blooming Features: Tall Spikes of Violet-Blue Flowers, Long Blooming Season, Heat & Humidity Tolerant, Attracts Pollinators Uses: Garden Borders, Cottage Gardens, Containers, Mass Plantings, Pollinator Gardens Patent: ✔ Patented Propagation: ❌ Propagation Prohibited Without License

More About Veronica ‘Royal Candles’

Veronica ‘Royal Candles’ produces elegant vertical spikes of rich violet-blue blooms that rise above a neat, leafy clump. The flowers create a strong architectural element in borders and mixed beds, drawing the eye upward and adding refined structure to plant combinations.

This variety was selected for robust flowering, sturdy stems, and a long season of color that holds well even in heat and humidity. The vivid blue hues bring depth to garden palettes and pair beautifully with softer pastels or contrasting bright tones.

Why We Like It (Our Trials)

In our trials, ‘Royal Candles’ has proven to be a dependable performer with abundant blooms that continue from late spring through summer with minimal maintenance. It maintains a tidy, upright form without flopping, even in strong garden conditions.

We especially appreciate its pollinator appeal — bees and butterflies frequently visit the tall flower spikes, adding life and movement to garden spaces throughout the season. Its structured habit also makes it a superb choice for formal and mixed border designs alike.

Royal Candles vs. Other Speedwell

‘Royal Candles’ is the most structured and upright of the group, making it stand apart immediately from Moody Blues® Sky Blue and Georgia Blue. Its tall, narrow flower spikes create clean vertical lines that work especially well in borders and formal plantings. Unlike softer or spreading varieties, Royal Candles holds its shape through bloom and rarely flops, even in heavier soils or rainy conditions. The deep blue-purple flowers also read darker and more saturated than the lighter tones found in Moody Blues® Sky Blue.

Compared to Red Fox, Royal Candles trades warmth for formality. Red Fox brings pink tones and a slightly more relaxed look, while Royal Candles feels crisp and architectural. It’s often the better choice where repetition and symmetry matter, or when anchoring a planting with dependable structure. For gardeners who want a Speedwell that behaves predictably and delivers strong vertical impact without wandering, Royal Candles remains the benchmark variety.