Looking for plants that start with V to add some new life to your garden? You’re in luck, because the world of plants that start with v is full of vibrant and versatile varieties perfect for any space. From stunning flowers to reliable vegetables, these plants offer something for every gardener, whether you have a big backyard or a sunny windowsill.
Let’s look at some fantastic options you can grow.
Plants That Start With V
This list covers a great mix of ornamental and edible plants. Each one brings its own unique charm and growing requirements to the table.
1. Veronica (Speedwell)
Veronica is a hardy perennial known for its beautiful spires of tiny flowers. They come in shades of blue, purple, pink, and white, blooming from early summer into fall.
* Why Grow It: Excellent for attracting pollinators like bees and butterflies. It’s also drought-tolerant once established.
* Care Tips: Plant in full sun to partial shade. It prefers well-drained soil. Deadhead spent flowers to encourage more blooms.
* Good to Know: There are many cultivars, from low-growing ground covers to taller border plants.
2. Viola and Pansy
Often grouped together, violas and pansies are cheerful cool-season favorites. Violas have smaller, abundant flowers, while pansies have larger, rounded blooms with distinctive “faces.”
* Why Grow It: They provide brilliant color in spring and fall when other plants are fading. Many are even edible.
* Care Tips: They like cool weather and moist, rich soil. Plant in partial sun to extend their blooming period in warmer months.
* Good to Know: They often self-seed, giving you surprise volunteers the following year.
3. Vinca (Periwinkle)
There’s two main types: Vinca minor (a perennial ground cover) and Catharanthus roseus (an annual often called Madagascar periwinkle). Both are tough and floriferous.
Why Grow It: Vinca minor is a superb shade ground cover. The annual vinca thrives in heat and humidity where other flowers might wilt.
Care Tips: Vinca minor grows in shade to part sun. Annual vinca needs full sun and well-drained soil. Both are quite low-maintenance.
Good to Know: Vinca minor can be invasive in some areas, so check it’s suitability for your region.
4. Verbena
Verbena is a powerhouse bloomer, often seen trailing from hanging baskets or spreading in garden beds. It produces clusters of small, bright flowers all season long.
* Why Grow It: It’s a magnet for butterflies and blooms relentlessly from spring until frost with minimal care.
* Care Tips: Requires full sun and good drainage. Let the soil dry out slightly between waterings.
* Good to Know: Some types are perennial in warmer climates, but are often grown as annuals elsewhere.
5. Venus Flytrap
This is the most famous carnivorous plant. Its modified leaves snap shut to trap insects, which it digests to supplement nutrients missing from its poor soil habitat.
* Why Grow It: It’s a fascinating conversation piece and a fun way to learn about plant adaptation.
* Care Tips: Must have nutrient-poor, acidic, moist soil (often pure sphagnum moss). Use only distilled, rainwater, or reverse osmosis water.
* Good to Know: Don’t trigger the traps for fun; it wastes the plant’s energy. It also needs a winter dormancy period.
6. Vegetable Varieties: Vivid Edibles
Several tasty vegetables start with V, making them perfect for your kitchen garden.
* Tomatoes: The ‘Violet Jasper’ or ‘Black Vernissage’ are beautiful, flavorful heirloom varieties.
* Carrots: ‘Vita-Sweet’ is a high-yielding, sweet orange type.
* Beans: ‘Velour’ filet bean is a purple-podded bush bean thats tender and stringless.
* Peppers: ‘Vidi’ or ‘Vampire’ peppers offer interesting shapes and heat levels.
7. Vitex (Chaste Tree)
Vitex is a large shrub or small tree that produces beautiful spikes of lavender-blue flowers in mid to late summer, a time when many shrubs have finished blooming.
* Why Grow It: It’s extremely heat and drought tolerant, and the flowers are highly attractive to bees and other pollinators.
* Care Tips: Plant in full sun. It adapts to many soil types but must have good drainage. Prune in late winter to maintain shape.
* Good to Know: It’s sometimes called the “lilac of the South” for it’s similar flower form and fragrance.
8. Other Notable “V” Plants
Here’s a few more to consider for your plant list:
* Virginia Creeper: A vigorous native vine known for its stunning red fall foliage. Be prepared to manage its growth.
* Valerian: A perennial herb with fragrant flowers used historically for it’s calming properties.
* Vanda Orchid: A stunning tropical orchid often grown in wooden baskets with minimal medium, requiring bright light and high humidity.
* Viburnum: A diverse genus of shrubs offering flowers, berries, and fantastic fall color. Options like ‘Snowball’ Viburnum are very popular.
How to Choose and Grow Your “V” Plants
Selecting the right plant is about matching it to your garden’s conditions. Here’s a simple three-step process.
1. Assess Your Space. How much sun does the area get? Is the soil sandy, clay, or rich loam? How much room does the plant have to grow?
2. Define Your Goal. Do you want cut flowers, ground cover, food, or something to attract wildlife? This narrows your choices quickly.
3. Start with the Basics. Always check the plant tag for its needs. When planting, dig a hole twice as wide as the root ball but no deeper.
Remember, the right plant in the right place will always thrive with less effort from you. Group plants with similar water needs together to make care easier.
Common Questions About Plants That Start With V
Q: What is a good indoor plant that starts with V?
A: The Venus Flytrap is a popular, though tricky, indoor choice. For something easier, consider the Variegated Spider Plant (though its botanical name is Chlorophytum comosum).
Q: Are there any shade plants that start with V?
A: Absolutely. Vinca minor (periwinkle) is a classic shade ground cover. Many types of Viola also do well in partial shade, especially in warmer climates.
Q: Which “V” plants are perennials?
A: Veronica, Vinca minor, Verbena (in warm zones), Valerian, Vitex, and Viburnum are all perennial plants that come back year after year.
Q: What is a fast-growing vine starting with V?
A: Virginia Creeper is a very fast-growing native vine. It provides excellent fall color but needs a strong support structure and regular pruning to keep it in check.
Adding these vibrant and versatile varieties to your garden is a wonderful way to try something new. With so many options—from the easy-care verbena to the fascinating Venus flytrap—you’re sure to find a plant that starts with V that captures your interest and grows successfully in your unique garden space. The key is to start with one or two that match your conditions and enjoy the process of watching them flourish.