Veronica longifolia (garden speedwell, "Seiyotorano")

Japanese name: セイヨウトラノオ （西洋虎尾）
Scientific name: Veronica longifolia

[Overview]
A perennial 0.6–1.2 m tall.
The stem is erect.
Leaves are simple, opposite or in whorls of 3–4, lanceolate to oblong, about 10 cm long, with serrated margins.
They have short leaf stalks.
Racemes at the stem tips bear flowers densely.
The corolla is 4-lobed, and 2 stamens project out of the flower.
The flowers are bluish purple to pale purple, but there are also cultivars that are white, pink and so on.

[Cultivation]
Propagate from seed, by division, or by shoot cuttings.
It prefers sunny, well-drained, fertile soil.
For potted plants, water thoroughly when the soil surface dries; for plants in the ground, rainfall is sufficient unless summer brings a long spell of sunny weather and the soil becomes severely dry.
In spring and autumn, place slow-release chemical fertilizer on the soil.
Pests and diseases include damping-off, powdery mildew, gray mold and aphids.

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