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1993 Perennial Plant of the Year®

The Perennial Plant Association’s Plant of the Year® for 1993 is Veronica ‘Sunny Border Blue’. This cultivar was hybridized by Robert Bennerup, the founder and original owner of Sunny Border Nurseries, Inc. in Kensington, CT. In 1947, Bob Bennerup took a trip to Denmark, his birthplace. There he found several varieties of Veronica spicata and Veronica longifolia with clean violet blue flowers, much darker than any he had seen in the U.S. He imported those plants and began making a series of crosses. Out of the resulting seedlings, one particular plant caught his eye because its leaves were rounder than any other veronica with which he was familiar. It was not until the next year that this specific seedling bloomed fully. To his amazement, it maintained a pleasing floral display for nearly three months, much longer than any veronica in the nursery trade. He named the plant ‘Sunny Border Blue’ and started propagating it by cuttings. Unfortunately, at this time, perennial flowers were going out of vogue and few people gave much notice to the plant.

Twenty years later, the plant had disappeared from the nursery trade and the original stock at Sunny Border Nurseries was lost. It was thought to be gone forever until Ron Chiabotta of Potomac Nursery in Potomac, MD, reintroduced it around 1977. He found it growing in the display gardens at the old Carroll Gardens in Westminster, MD. When Mr. Chiabotta learned that Sunny Border Nurseries no longer had stock of the plant, he was good enough to send some propagation material. Since that time, this perennial has become widely distributed and well recognized throughout the U.S.

‘Sunny Border Blue’ is highly valued for its ease of growth and long bloom season. Its luxurious, dark green, rounded leaves are oppositely arranged on the stems. Expect the plant to stand 18 to 24 inches tall when in bloom. The dark violet-blue flowers are borne in erect spikes that, in addition to making a fine show in the landscape, are also highly prized for cutting. This perennial will flower throughout the summer and into early fall. The extent of the bloom season will be determined by the length of the growing season in the area where the plant is grown, and whether there is a maintenance program that includes regular deadheading.

Veronica ‘Sunny Border Blue’ is a reliable performer in U.S.D.A. hardiness zones 3 through 8. This plant is tolerant of a wide range of well-drained soil types. Amending soils, especially very heavy and light types, with generous amounts of organic matter will result in superior quality specimens. There is no specific soil pH concern in growing this plant if it is within the range of what is provided to other common garden perennials. Some attention to soil fertility will result in a better and perhaps longer floral display.

Excessively fertile soils may lead to sprawling growth and weak flower stems that may require support. Although this perennial will tolerate very light shade, planting ‘Sunny Border Blue’ in full sun will give the maximum amount of flowers. We occasionally see fasciation in the flower stems of this plant, but this does not appear to detract from the beauty of the floral display. Beyond this, there are no other pest and disease problems that regularly bother this fine garden plant.

Division of the crowns can be done in early spring as the new stems emerge or in the fall of the year. Division every fourth or fifth year will result in the most vigorous specimens. Gardeners in northern areas should opt for spring division to minimize the potential for winter damage to the plants.

‘Sunny Border Blue’ combines effectively with a number of garden perennials in the flower border and also in other areas of the landscape. It looks especially pleasing with white, pink or yellow flowered plants. As a starting point, here are a few suggestion of other perennials to consider planting with this cultivar: Achillea ‘Heidi’, Coreopsis ‘Moonbeam’, Echinacea purpurea ‘White Swan’, yellow-flowering Hemerocallis, Malva alcea var. fastigiata, Oenothera missouriensis and Phlox paniculata ‘Fujiyama’. ‘Sunny Border Blue’, with all its desirable attributes, lends itself to large scale commercial usage.

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PLANT DATA

Hardiness
USDA Zones 3 to 8

Light
Full sun to very light shade

Size
18-24 inches tall

Soil
Well-drained soil is key to successful culture