Shovel prune it. There are far better cultivars of Veronica as far as I'm concerned. Mine were always a mess, and the flower spikes were short and stubby, not long, graceful and elegant like Veronica should be. I still can't believe this dud is still carried by nurseries - they're a mess even on the benches - but I guess someone must be buying them...

Anyway, I say ditch them. "Lavendar Charm" is a good one for a taller cultivar to replace.

Sue, same thing with mine. It looks awful. I'm inclined to take the above advice...this one may be going this fall.

I looked at it tonight while watering and I do think it is mildew. I did a little research and I guess there are many that think its "perennial plant of the year" designation was a grave error. I need to re-do that bed and when I do it's gone.

I feel a need to defend this plant. I was out in the garden today and took a good look at this one and not a single brown leaf anywhere - well maybe a couple at the base, but nothing major. It's beautiful. Maybe it performs better in certain climates or whatever, but to make a blanket statement that it's a terrible plant isn't right IMO.

By all means tear yours out if it isn't performing, but I've had mine for years and love it. I have found however it really seems to benefit from dividing every couple of years. Maybe that's why mine continues to do so well.

kevin

I've had mine for a few years and love it. It has brown leaves on the bottom but all the top parts are healthy dark green and it's blooming up a storm. I like it and think it's lovely. I even had a gorgeous rebloom last year after cutting back the spent flowers.

Here's a couple pics of mine this season. Probably needs dividing soon :).

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Wasn't this plant one of the perennials of the year? I don't think it has the staying power to be an exceptional plant, because mine has never bloomed as well as it did the first year I bought it. It also gets ratty brown lower leaves every year, rain or drought. I might try dividing it or move it to see if it's happier some place else or it will probably get shovel pruned.

This year, I've got a lot of perennials that look like crap along with VBB, because we're having a very hot dry summer so far and I'm watering enough to keep things alive, but they don't look their best by any means.

This one is a prolific grower for me. I have other things in front of it so if it gets ratty lower leaves, they are not visible. Mine gets pretty tall and wider every year. I divided it this year and gave a clump to my son and it transplanted beautifully. I can see why it was perennial of the year. It's tough. It gets half day sun and modest watering here and we have alkaline clay soil. I'm noticing the posts who have trouble with it seem to come from the east coast. Those of us from the midwest are the ones having good luck with it.

Sunnytop, I think you may be right about the east coast thing. I know some of the nurseries around me don't carry that one anymore, but they are carrying newer Veronicas - wonder if they will do better in our area. The garden shops often recommend the salvias instead. I do have one Sunny Border Blue - I just love the color so much. Last year it did turn completely brown and have to be cut to the ground, but this year, so far, it's just blue and beautiful. I'm sure I will have to cut it back eventually, but with the summer we're having, I've had several plants that needed haircuts already. Might try dividing it this fall. Lynn

Veronica perfers to get morning sun to start with, they don't like water on their leaves and struggle during periods of high humidity.

Consider Purpilicous as a replacment (IMO the color, vigor and habit is far far superior than Border Blue)...I am seeing some browning of the lower leaves, but again humidity and high heat have been wreaking havoc on these plants.

I have a heavier clay based soil and these plants reach about 20" and close to 30" with the blooms...no idea why some sources say this plant gets 12".

Purpilicous is a variety I'm seeing a lot of in the nurseries around here - I think I'll give it a try. I love the spikiness of the veronicas. I picked up *Eveline* the other day (at the Home Depot death rack :-) but after cutting it back I can already see new flowers forming. Have any of you grown that one? Lynn

During the day, my sunny border blue is covered with butterflies. They barely move when I walk by. I wasn't sure I liked them when I first planted them, but this year they are gorgeous! No complaints.

Jodi