Common in grassland and woods, often in long grass besides paths.

Height c 25-50 cm. Flower diameter c 9-12 mm

Flowers in spikes arising from leaf axils. Leaves hairy, unstalked or with stalk < 5 mm and well-toothed. Flower-stalks at least as long as the bract at their base, and at least as long as the calyx.

The two lines of hairs up the stem are nearly always present and are enough on their own to ID the plant, but in deep shade the stem is sometimes equally hairy all round.

Fruit-capsule shorter than calyx. Flowers normally bright blue with white eye, but occasionally more of a mauve colour.

The paired spikes of flowers arise from the leaf axils. The flowers are large, 8 - 12mm and bright blue.

Veronica chamaedrys 1Jun14 NS6656 PW

The opposite leaves are sessile or with very short (<5mm petioles).

Veronica chamaedrys 1Jun14 NS6656 PW

This is not a reliable sign for plants in the shade, but is interesting to see.

Veronica chamaedrys 1Jun14 NS6656 PW

This shows the typical leaves, but the ‘flower’ is due to the Germander Speedwell Gall-Midge Jaapiella veronicae. This is quite common on heath and moorland in VC77.

Veronica chamaedrys NS6638 26Aug2017 PW

In woods with fairly alkaline soil.

Height c 15-35 cm. Flowers c 6-9 mm across. Leaves c 2-3 cm.

Spikes of 2-5 flowers arising from leaf-axils, but mostly only one spike from each pair of opposite leaf-axils; main stem doesn't end in flower-spike. Leaves with stalks > 5mm, and with large teeth as in pictures. Stem equally hairy all round.

Creeping and rooting. Individual flowers pale violet-bluish on stalks 4-7 mm, in the axils of bracts which are much shorter than the stalks. Fruit capsule when ripe longer than calyx.

Veronica montana 20May17 NS5960 PW

Showing the capsule which is longer than the calyx and also the large teeth on the leaf.

Veronica montana NS5858 20July2018 PW

Common on moorland and in woods, scrub or rocky areas

Height c 15-30 cm. Flower diameter c 5-8 mm

Stem hairy all round, leaves hairy all over. Flower spike from axil of leaf near tip of stem, often appearing terminal at first glance. Individual flower-stalks 2 mm or less. Well over 5 flowers in most flower-spikes. Flowers mauve. Fruit capsule longer than calyx. Leaves form dense mats, stems root at nodes.

Veronica officinalis NS7848 8Jul2020 MP

Veronica officinalis NN8842 24June2018 PW

Veronica officinalis NS7848 8Jul2020 MP

Veronica persica NS5565 25Jul2017 PW

Veronica persica NS5566 25Jul17 PW

Often found at the bottom of fence or under hedges in base ground.

Veronica persica NS5464 7Apr22 PW

Veronica persica NS7656 30Mar2018 PW

Veronica persica NS5963 16Sep23 PW

Veronica agrestis NS5769 20Aug23 PW

Veronica agrestis NS5661 vc76 23Jul25 PW

Veronica agrestis NS5769 20Aug23 PW

Veronica agrestis NS6869 26Oct23 MP

V. persica (left) Veronica agrestis NS6656 29Sep19 FM

This is found earlier in the season, often in damp domestic lawns. The paired, small leaves up the stem and the disproportionately large flower with a pale lip are distinctive.

This shows the kidney-shaped leaves and the large flowers.

Veronica filiformis NS6555 9 April 2021 PW

Veronica filiformis NS60487157 24Apr24 SPF Milligan iR

Veronica filiformis NS6860 31Mar2019 PW

Close up of the stem and leaves. The calyx is empty as this plant rarely sets seeds and spread vegetatively, often by mowing.

Veronica filiformis NS9840 11May2019 PW

Veronica filiformis NS6862 14Oct25 PW

Weed of cultivated or disturbed ground.

Flower diameter c 4-8 mm. Leaves to c 1.5 cm long.

Leaves palmately lobed and veined, veins radiating from base of leaf-blade. Flowers solitary in leaf-axils. Annual, grows along the ground. Flowers lilac or blue, on long stalks.

It occurs earlier in the season.

Veronica hederifolia subsp. hederifolia NT0056 5May2018 PW

Common on bare ground, gravel, edges of car parks etc, and as a garden weed, or in short grass.

Height c 10-25 cm. Flowers c 4-6 mm across.

Flowers white or pale blue with dark blue lines in the top half. Leaves without the hairy, toothed, look of most small Speedwells, being glossy, smooth and more or less untoothed, though hairs and teeth may be found on close inspection.

Creeping and rooting, with ascending stems terminating in leafy flower-spikes. Flower bracts longer than flower stalks, which are longer than the calyx, which is eventually about as long as the ripe fruit within it, which is broader than long.

Veronica serpyllifolia 20May14 NS6162 PW

A typical appearance of this plant.

Veronica arvensis NS6168 27May19 PW

Veronica serpyllifolia NS8549 9May2020 DG

Veronica peregrina NS6666 28May19 PW

Veronica peregrina NS6253 28Aug25 PW

Quite frequent on bare dry ground or as a garden weed.

Height c 10-25 cm. Flower diameter c 2-4 mm - tiny brilliant blue flower.

Flowers/fruits in a spike terminating the stem. Flower-spike usually occupies more than half the stem. Leaves (but not upper flower bracts) strongly toothed. Flower stalks shorter than the calyx.

Annual. Plant often sticky-hairy. Fruit capsule shorter than calyx and about as long as broad.

The plant is usually erect and unbranched except at the base.

Note the toothed leaves lower down the stem.

Veronica arvensis 9Aug2017 NS9820 MP

Veronica arvensis NS8549 9May2020 DG

Veronica arvensis Apr17 NS6066 PW

Later on the plants are still distinctive as erect weeds on paths and stony ground. In this case identification is assisted by the tiny blue flower.

Veronica arvensis 6Jul17 NS621574 PW

In burns or marshy ground, often found where a burn crosses a path.

Most robust speedwell, height c 20-35 cm. Flower c 6-9 mm across.

Hairless plant. Flowers in spikes of 10-30, arising from each of an opposite pair of leaf-axils, main stem not terminating in flower-spike. Leaves glossy and rounded at tip with a white midrib. A somewhat fleshy plant, creeping and rooting in the water or mud, then ascending. Flowers normally deep blue with white eye.

Veronica beccabunga 29May14 NS6056 PW

The white midrib and round, slightly serrated, shiny and slightly fleshy leaves are distinctive.

Veronica beccabunga NT0132 15Sept2018 PW

Can often spread locally. It can be a nuisance blocking up the flow of a small stream hence - beccabunga - because it bungs up the becks.

Veronica beccabunga 29May14 NS6056 PW

In water or wet ground

Height c 10-30 cm. Flower c 4-7 mm across.

Alternating flower-spikes distinguish this species from the other two speedwells with long narrow leaves (V catenata and V anagallis-aquatica). Fruit-capsules flat, notched. Flower-pedicels much longer than their bracts.

Veronica scutellata NS9335 15Jul2018 PW

Veronica scutellata NS6765 23Jul2017 PW

Veronica scutellata NS9335 15Jul2018 PW

Veronica serpyllifolia NS8549 9May2020 DG

Veronica salicifolia NS6253 28Aug25 PW

Veronica species - Speedwells and Brooklime

This is a large group of similar small plants and some woody shrubs which have been naturalised.

There are notes on some species in the text of the section label.

Veronica chamaedrys Germander Speedwell Perennial ascending to erect to 50cm, stem hairy in two opposite rows (look lower down and not on the flower stem). Leaves, triangular- ovate, hairy, serrate, ±sessile or petiolate < 5mm. Flowers (5-15) in ±paired axillary racemes 8-12mm across bright blue. Capsule shorter than calyx.

Veronica montana Wood Speedwell Perennial ascending to erect to 40cm, stem hairy in all round. Leaves, broadly ovate, hairy, serrate, petioles 6 - 15mm paler green than V. chamaedrys. Flowers (2-5) in ±paired axillary racemes 8 - 10mm across pale blue-lilac. Capsule broadly transversely elliptic.

Veronica officinalis Heath Speedwell Perennial decumbent to erect to 40cm, hairy all round. Leaves obovate-elliptical, hairy, serrate and petiolate, ±cuneate at base. Flowers in ±paired axillary racemes 5-9mm across lilac. Capsule ±as long as wide.

Veronica persica Common Field-speedwell Hairy annual with procumbent stem to 50cm. Leaves ovate, serrate. Usually only the terminal leaves are in pairs. Solitary axillary flowers on pedicels longer than the leaves, bright blue, usually lower lip almost white > 8mm across, calyx lobes cuneate or rounded at base. Capsule with lobes at 90° and patent glandular hairs and non-glandular hairs. Neophyte from 1825 S.W. Asia. Often found at the bottom of fence or under hedges in base ground and flowers throughout the year.

Veronica agrestis Green Field-speedwell Like V. persica. Leaves longer than wide, sparsely hairy above. Crenate-serrate with 3-4 teeth / side. Flowers with shorter pedicels and with corolla, whitish to pale blue < 8mm across. Capsule with ±parallel lobes, spreading glandular hairs only.

Veronica polita Grey Field-speedwell Like V. persica. Leaves wider than long, dull to greyish-green but with corolla, bright blue all over < 8mm across, capsule with ±parallel lobes, ±spreading glandular hairs and short non-glandular arched hairs. Pictures awaited

Veronica filiformis Slender Speedwell Perennial procumbent, minutely hairy stems to 50cms. Leaves orbicular or kidney shaped, crenate. Solitary axillary flowers are blue with white lower lip 8 - 10mm and prominent as they are on pedicels > 2x as long as the subtending leaves and petioles. Usually does not set seed. Capsule with slightly divergent lobes and patent glandular hairs. The flowers look disproportionate to the leaves when it flowers then later in the season, the leaves can form profuse patches in lawns and mown grass. First recorded 1838 and spreading since 1927 mainly though vegetatively by mowing. Turkey and Caucasus.

Veronica hederifolia Ivy-leaved Speedwell Minutely hairy annual with procumbent or scrambling stem to 60cm. Leaves rather succulent, light-green, wider than long, orbicular to kidney-shaped with 1- 3 large teeth or lobes each side. Solitary axillary flowers on pedicels shorter than the leaves, whitish to blue, 4-lobed calyx lobes cordate at base.

Ssp. hederifolia apical leaf lobe wider than long, pedicels 2 - 4x as long as the calyx which enlarges strongly after flowering with marginal hairs >0.9mm. Corolla >6mm whitish to blue, anthers blue. Open and cultivated ground

Ssp. lucorum apical leaf lobe longer than wide, pedicels 3.5 - 7 x as long as the calyx which enlarges strongly after flowering with marginal hairs<0.9mm. Corolla <6mm whitish to pale lilac-blue, anthers whitish to pale blue. Shady and less disturbed places

Use as many characters as possible 25% cannot be taken to subspecies.

Veronica serpyllifolia Thyme-leaved Speedwell Creeping perennial, rooting at notes, with ascending glabrous stems. Leaves, ±glabrous and ±entire, shortly petiolate to sessile. Flowers in terminal racemes. Pedicels ±same length or shorter than the subtending bracts. Corolla 5 - 10mm white or pale-blue, usually 12+ flowers. Most plants are ssp. serpyllifolia.

Ssp. humifusa is a mountain species. Stem procumbent, leaves ovate to orbicular, racemes with glandular hairs, fewer flowers < 12, larger and darker blue 5-8mm across. May not warrant ssp. status.

Veronica peregrina American Speedwell Annual, erect and ±glabrous to 25cms. Leave narrowly oblong, entire to distantly crenate. Upper bracts lanceolate and much longer than the pedicels. Terminal racemes, single, small flowers 2-3mm across, short pedicels in a terminal spike, corolla blue. Found in gardens and parks. Neophyte from 1680.

Veronica arvensis Wall Speedwell Annual, erect to 25cm, pubescent to hairy with ±some glandular hairs above. Sometimes short hairs in 2 lines. Leaves to 15mm coarsely or bluntly toothed less than halfway to midrib. Lower leaves petiolate. Racemes terminal, in axils of longer bracts. Calx-lobes 4, acute at apex and cuneate at base. Flowers tiny 2-3mm and bright blue, capsule glandular hairy.

Veronica teucrium (austriaca subsp. teucrium) Large speedwell Perennial decumbent to erect to 50cm, hairy all round. Serrate, sessile, oblong-ovate leaves. Flowers in axillary racemes 10-15mm across bright blue. Garden escape establishes in dunes. Pictures awaited

Veronica beccabunga Brooklime Perennial to 60cm. Leaves ovate-elliptic, broad, blunt, fleshy, glabrous and ±entire with paler mid-rib and short petioles connate at base. Flowers in paired axillary racemes, corolla bright blue.

Veronica scutellata Marsh Speedwell Perennial to 60cm, a slender plant. Leaves and stem glabrous (or rarely pubescent - var villosa). Leaves narrowly-ovate and shortly petiolate below, yellowish green, pointed, ±clasping, sessile and ±entire. Flowers in solitary axillary racemes of usually 5 buds, corolla white, pale pink or lilac 5-8mm across.

Veronica anagallis-aquatica Blue Water-speedwell Perennial to 50cm, a slender plant. Leaves and stem ±glabrous. Leaves linear-lanceolate, lower leaves shortly petiolate and upper leaves, lanceolate and sessile and all leaves ±entire. Flowers in paired axillary racemes, corolla blue with darker veins which extend close to the edge of the petals and on pedicels at least as long as the bracts. The capsule is not notched. Prefers moving water like rivers Pictures awaited

Veronica catenata Pink Water-speedwell Very like Veronica anagallis-aquatica Blue Water-speedwell except: all leaves sessile; flowers are pink with darker veins that are short and don't extend to the edge; capsule is notched; prefers still water like ditches or canals.

Veronica salicifolia Narrow-leaved Hebe Woody shrub, opposite, narrowly ovate leaves with acute tips and short petioles. White flowers in a long raceme.

Stace, Poland, Crewe, Clapham Tutin & Warburg, Aquatic Plants of N C Europe