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Weeds garden Groundcovers

Made the mistake of planting speedwell [not blue star creeper]

2 years ago

last modified: 2 years ago

I planted blue star creeper as a ground cover under pink tulips and azaleas some years back, at least I think it was blue star creeper? It was really pretty with its blue flowers in the spring, but over time it has spread everywhere and taken over. It grows up through the shrubs and smothers everything out. I cut it down to the ground and it grows right back. It has a really tough mat of roots, too. How can I get rid of it? Can I spray it with weed killer or would that harm the shrubs it's growing under?

Featured Answer

Deb

2 years ago

It may be Veronica repens, which is extremely invasive. Once you kill it, you could try a less invasive veronica, such as V. pectinata.

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Comments (10)

gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
2 years ago
That's not blue star creeper :-) It is one of the groundcover veronicas....maybe V. liwanensis.
lisianthus thanked gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
lisianthus
Original Author
2 years ago
Thanks, GardenGal! I couldn't remember what it was labeled but Veronica rings a bell now that you mention it. Is it also called speedwell? Should I edit my post to fix the name?

Well, it sure has turned out to be invasive. I wish I'd never planted it. I started out with a few tiny pots underplanting bulbs but now it's everywhere.

My poor azaleas were buried under here and I couldn't get out to liberate them for awhile-

How do I banish this stuff?
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floral_uk z.8/9 SW UK
2 years ago
How about embracing it and just moving the azaleas? Keep it neat by going over it with the shears. Otherwise you're going to have to remove it the old fashioned way, methodically, by hand. It’s a broad leaf sub shrub so there’s no chemical which won’t also kill your other shrubs.
lisianthus thanked floral_uk z.8/9 SW UK
lisianthus
Original Author
2 years ago
I wish plants came with warnings.
lisianthus
Original Author
2 years ago
I can't embrace it or soon it will grow right over my house so you can't see it anymore.
Tiffany, purpleinopp Z8b Opp, AL
2 years ago
You could smother it under cardboard covered with mulch.
lisianthus
Original Author
2 years ago
Little by little, I'm digging it all out. What a pain!
lisianthus
Original Author
2 years ago
Thank you, Deb. Looking at photos of both types, I think you may be right. Does V. pectinata stay low to the ground? I couldn't get over how tall this one grew, right up through shrubs, burying them, at least a couple feet high. The blue flowers are so pretty in spring, though, especially with pink tulips.
Deb
2 years ago
V. pectinata is almost flat to the ground except when it fluffs up a little in bloom. It's evergreen, and it provides a beautiful carpet for tulips. This spring, I experimented with combining merlot tulips with candytuft, which grows about 8" high. I was pleased with the results.
lisianthus thanked Deb

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