Speedwell Veronica arvensis
Other Common Name(s):
Other plants called Speedwell:
- Phonetic Spelling
- veh-RON-ih-ka ar-VEN-sis
- Description
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Corn speedwell is a winter annual weed with tiny bright blue flowers. It prefers sunny locations in poor soils that are moist to dry in disturbed areas. It is low-branching and spreads by seeds, occasionally forming colonies.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Veronica
- Species:
- arvensis
- Family:
- Plantaginaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- The herb is alterative, antiscorbutic and diuretic. It has been used used for the treatment of scurvy, impurities of the blood etc. It is also used as a remedy for scrofulous affections, especially of the skin, and is bruised and applied externally for healing burns and ulcers.
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Europe, Asia, Africa
- Distribution:
- Forests, streambanks, prairies, savannas, glades, tops of bluffs, fields, lawns, railroads, roadsides, and open, disturbed areas.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 0 ft. 2 in. - 0 ft. 8 in.
- Width: 0 ft. 6 in. - 1 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Annual
- Weed
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Clumping
- Prostrate
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Fine
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Shallow Rocky
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Occasionally Dry
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Description:
- 1/8 inch long heart-shaded capsule with numerous yellow seeds.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Blue
- Purple/Lavender
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Raceme
- Spike
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Good Cut
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Star
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- The flower is a blue-violet to blue corolla with 4 petal-like lobes and 4 hairy green sepals. They bloom near the apex of the stems in mid-spring to mid-summer.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Opposite
- Leaf Shape:
- Lanceolate
- Linear
- Oblong
- Orbicular
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Crenulate
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- The yellow-green lower leaves are up to 3/8" long and across and are hairy, oval-orbicular, crenate along their margins, and opposite with very short stems. The middle to upper leaves are up to ΒΌ" long, linear-oblong to lanceolate in shape, slightly crenate or smooth, alternate and sessile. They are hairy and yellow-green to green.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Surface:
- Hairy (pubescent)
- Stem Description:
- Prostrate to erect stems
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Landscape Theme:
- Rock Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Poor Soil
- Rabbits
- Problems:
- Weedy
