Veronica ‘Charlotte’ is a compact, white-flowered variety of this cottage-garden favorite, also known as Garden Speedwell. Tall spikes filled with tiny, white, tube-shaped blossoms complement the plant’s variegated green and white leaves.

I purchased one of these plants on a summer-perennial shopping spree at Loen Nursery in Oregon and situated it in a sunny but relatively dry spot under a limbed-up Douglas Fir in our backyard. So far, it seems rather thirsty and flags a bit in the afternoon sun. I water it dutifully, but I may need to transplant it to a spot with fewer water-hungry tree roots.