Notice

Colin Mills, compiler of the Hortus Camdenensis, died in late November 2012 after a short illness. As he always considered the Hortus his legacy, it is his family's intention to keep the site running in perpetuity. It will not, however, be updated in the near future.

Veronica orientalis Wender.

Fully hardy, woody perennial with toothed, usually lance-shaped leaves, and one-sided axillary racemes of pink or blue flowers in summer.   [RHSD, Hortus].

Horticultural & Botanical History

‘A native of the Levant: it was cultivated in 1759, by Miller, and is a pretty little herbaceous plant, growing about a foot in height, with many slender branching stalks.  The flowers are delicate: they come out in May, lasting a considerable time in succession.  It is quite hardy, and may be kept either in a pot, which we prefer, or planted in the ground, in which case it attains to a much greater size.  It will grow in almost any soil, and is propagated by division of the roots, for which the spring is the best season.’  [LBC no.419/1820].

History at Camden Park

Included in hand-written lists in a copy of the 1850 catalogue held at the Mitchell Library, inscribed on the front Wm. Macarthur, 23rd Dec 1854.  [ML 635.9m].

Notes

Another, perhaps less likely possibility is Veronica austriaca L., synonym Veronica orientalis Willd. from southern Europe.  This is a fully hardy herbaceous perennial with deeply cut, ovate leaves and axillary racemes of large blue flowers in summer.  [RHSD, Hortus].

Published Feb 18, 2010 - 03:20 PM | Last updated Feb 18, 2010 - 03:27 PM

Figured is a spindly plant with terminal spikes of blue flowers. Loddiges Botanical Cabinet no.419, 1820.

Veronica orientalis Wender. | LBC no.419/1820 | RBGS

Family Scrophulariaceae
Category
Region of origin

Middle East

Synonyms
Common Name
Name in the Camden Park Record

Veronica orientalis 

Confidence level medium