Veronica arvensis L.
Common Speedwell
Wall speedwell is a small native annual of the plantain family, common and widespread throughout Britain. It is an unassuming plant, usually upright and softly hairy, reaching only about 5 to 25 cm, with rounded, toothed lower leaves giving way to narrow, pointed bracts up the stem.
About
Wall speedwell is a small native annual of the plantain family, common and widespread throughout Britain. It is an unassuming plant, usually upright and softly hairy, reaching only about 5 to 25 cm, with rounded, toothed lower leaves giving way to narrow, pointed bracts up the stem. The flowers are tiny — bright blue and just a couple of millimetres across — tucked into the axils of the leafy flowering spike, and easily overlooked.
Often germinating in autumn to overwinter as a small plant, it flowers over a long season from spring into autumn, broadly March to October. It is very much a plant of dry, open, infertile ground — the tops of walls, bare paths, car parks, quarries, sand-pits and playing fields. While too modest to grow deliberately, it is a natural early-successional colonist of poor, disturbed soils and a familiar feature of bare ground and short, open turf across the country.
Also known as
Corn Speedwell · Field Speedwell · Rock Speedwell · Wall Speedwell
Synonyms
Agerella arvensis · Cardia arvensis · Veronica acinifolia · Veronica acinifolia brevipedunculata · Veronica acinifolia romana · Veronica arvensis balearica · Veronica arvensis congesta · Veronica arvensis glandulosa · Veronica arvensis microcarpa · Veronica arvensis pennellii · Veronica arvensis pilosissima
Beta — under active development. This catalogue is still being built and accuracy-checked. The information here (including plant identifications, British native status, soil and sun/shade preferences) is provided in good faith for general guidance only and may contain errors or omissions. It must not be relied upon on its own — please confirm details with us before making planting, specification, foraging or purchasing decisions, and never eat or medicinally use any plant based on this catalogue alone, as some species are toxic. To the extent permitted by law, Phoenix Amenity Supplies accepts no liability for any loss arising from use of this information.