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Veronica persica is often confused with:: Veronica arvensis
Plants that fill a similar niche:: Salvia rosmarinus; Ulmus americana; Viola x wittrockiana

Bird's-eye Veronica persica

Other Common Name(s):

Phonetic Spelling: veh-RON-ih-kah PER-see-kuh
Description: Birdeye Speedwell is a weedy annual native to Eurasia but has naturalized throughout North America. It prefers partial to full sun, moist conditions, and rich loamy soil but is adaptable to poor soil. Most vegetative growth and development occurs during the cool weather of late winter or early spring. It blooms winter through early summer depending on the region and reproduces by seed. It is found in lawns, fields, gardens and other disturbed soil areas.
See this plant in the following landscape:

Cultivars / Varieties:

Tags:

#full sun tolerant #annuals #weeds #blue flowers #winter interest #winter annual weed #cpp #spreading #winter flowers #partial shade tolerant #HS302 #lawn planting

Form in bloom (Greensboro, NC)-Late Winter — Form in bloom (Greensboro, NC)-Late Winter Douglas Goldman, USDA CC BY-NC 4.0

Close up of blue flower with white center — Close up of blue flower with white center (Greensboro, NC)-Late Winter Douglas Goldman, USDA CC BY-NC 4.0

Blue flower with white center (Greensboro, NC)-Late Winter — Blue flower with white center (Greensboro, NC)-Late Winter Douglas Goldman, USDA CC BY-NC 4.0

Bracts, fruit and stem with hairs (Greensboro, NC)-Late Winter — Bracts, fruit and stem with hairs (Greensboro, NC)-Late Winter Douglas Goldman, USDA CC BY-NC 4.0

Form in bloom (Greensboro, NC)-Late Winter — Form in bloom (Greensboro, NC)-Late Winter Douglas Goldman, USDA CC BY-NC 4.0

Oval leaves with hairs (Greensboro, NC)-Late Winter — Oval leaves with hairs.(Greensboro, NC)-Late Winter Douglas Goldman, USDA CC BY-NC 4.0

Alternate leaves on the upper stem (Greensboro, NC)-Late Winter — Alternate leaves on the upper stem (Greensboro, NC)-Late Winter Douglas Goldman, USDA CC BY-NC 4.0

Red stems, fruit, bracts with hairs (Greensboro, NC)-Late Winter — Red stems, fruit, bracts with hairs (Greensboro, NC)-Late Winter Douglas Goldman, USDA CC BY-NC 4.0

Back of Flower — Back of Flower Stefan Lefnaer CC BY-SA 4.0

Leaves — Leaves Stefan Lefnaer CC BY-SA 4.0

Unripe Fruit — Unripe Fruit Stefan Lefnaer CC BY-SA 4.0

Seeds — Seeds Steve Hurst, hosted by the USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database

Veronica persica — Flower and Leaves (Wake County, NC) Cathy Dewitt CC BY 4.0

Veronica persica — Leaves Close-Up (Wake County,NC)-Mid Fall Cathy Dewitt CC BY 4.0

Cultivars / Varieties:

Tags:

#full sun tolerant #annuals #weeds #blue flowers #winter interest #winter annual weed #cpp #spreading #winter flowers #partial shade tolerant #HS302 #lawn planting

Attributes:
Genus:

Veronica

Species:

persica

Family:

Plantaginaceae

Life Cycle:

Annual

Recommended Propagation Strategy:

Seed

Country Or Region Of Origin:

Europe, Asia

Distribution:

Most of North America

Dimensions:

Height: 0 ft. 4 in. - 0 ft. 8 in.

Width: 0 ft. 4 in. - 1 ft. 0 in.

Whole Plant Traits:
Plant Type:

Ground Cover

Weed

Wildflower

Habit/Form:

Horizontal

Prostrate

Spreading

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

Soil Drainage:

Good Drainage

Occasionally Wet

NC Region:

Coastal

Mountains

Piedmont

Fruit:
Fruit Color:

Green

Fruit Description:

Heart shaped fruit divided into two lobes containing 5-10 seeds per lobe.

Flowers:
Flower Color:

Blue

Purple/Lavender

White

Flower Inflorescence:

Solitary

Flower Bloom Time:

Spring

Summer

Winter

Flower Shape:

Saucer

Star

Flower Petals:

4-5 petals/rays

Flower Size:

< 1 inch

Flower Description:

1/3 inch small sky blue flower with dark stripes and a white center on thin, long, hairy stalks that originate in the axils of leaves. Green bracts have hairs.

Leaves:
Leaf Color:

Green

Leaf Type:

Simple

Leaf Arrangement:

Alternate

Opposite

Leaf Shape:

Ovate

Leaf Margin:

Crenate

Dentate

Hairs Present:

Yes

Leaf Length:

< 1 inch

Leaf Width:

< 1 inch

Leaf Description:

Opposite oval leaves on the lower portion and alternate leaves on the upper portion. Leaves are up to 1/2" long and 1/3" across and are medium to dark green and slightly hairy with short stems.

Stem:
Stem Color:

Brown/Copper

Red/Burgundy

Stem Is Aromatic:

No

Stem Surface:

Hairy (pubescent)

Stem Description:

Reddish stems are hairy, prostrate with the ends growing upright.

Landscape:
Attracts:

Bees

Problems:

Weedy