# bird's-eye speedwell (*Veronica persica*) Bird's-eye speedwell is a small, lovely plant with tiny blue flowers. It often grows in gardens and fields, bringing a splash of color to the ground. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 10 - **Habitat:** Urban areas ![bird's-eye speedwell](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Veronica_persica_060403Fw.jpg&width=800) Photo: Strobilomyces, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Veronica_persica_060403Fw.jpg) ## Appearance The bird's-eye speedwell has bright sky-blue flowers, each with a distinctive white center and dark blue veins, making them look like tiny eyes. Its stems and oval leaves are often hairy, growing low to the ground and forming sprawling mats. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Lamiales - **Family:** Plantaginaceae - **Genus:** Veronica ## Interesting facts - Each little blue flower usually only stays open for a single day! - Its tiny seeds can hitch a ride on mud or even car tires! - It’s a 'cosmopolitan' plant, meaning you can find it almost anywhere in the world! - The name 'speedwell' might come from how quickly its flowers drop their petals! ## Special abilities - **Seed Flinger:** Bird's-eye speedwell can launch its seeds away from the parent plant, helping them spread to new places quickly. - **Tough Survivor:** This plant can grow in many different soils and conditions, helping it thrive in disturbed areas like gardens. - **Quick Spreader:** Bird's-eye speedwell has sprawling stems that root easily where they touch the ground, helping it cover areas fast. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 5-40 cm - **Spread:** 15-45 cm - **Flower Size:** 0.8-1.2 cm - **Bloom Season:** Early spring to late fall - **Edible:** Yes - **Toxicity:** None - **Lifecycle:** Annual - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** Honey bee (*Apis mellifera*) — Visits flowers for nectar and pollen. - **Pollinates:** Common eastern bumblebee (*Bombus impatiens*) — Feeds on nectar and collects pollen. - **Eaten by:** Spanish slug (*Arion vulgaris*) — Slugs graze on its tender leaves and stems. ## Traits - [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle. - [Spring Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/spring-blooming): Spring blooming plants produce their flowers during the spring season, often signifying the end of winter and the start of new growth. - [Edible](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/edible): Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Urban Friendly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/urban-friendly): This habitat trait indicates species that can coexist with humans in urban and suburban environments, utilizing man-made structures and green spaces. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always check with an adult before touching or picking plants. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify bird's-eye speedwell? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is bird's-eye speedwell? 5-40 cm ### How wide does bird's-eye speedwell spread? 15-45 cm ### How big are the flowers on bird's-eye speedwell? 0.8-1.2 cm ### When does bird's-eye speedwell bloom? Early spring to late fall ### Is bird's-eye speedwell edible? Yes ### Is bird's-eye speedwell toxic? None ### What is bird's-eye speedwell's lifecycle? Annual ## Where to spot - [American Baptist College](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/american-baptist-college) — Tennessee, US · Campus - [Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Reserve](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/armstrong-redwoods-state-natural-reserve) — California, US · State Park - [Concord](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/concord) — Tennessee, US · Neighborhood - [Fort Monroe National Monument](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/fort-monroe-national-monument) — Virginia, US · National Park - [Hedgesville Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/hedgesville-historic-district) — West Virginia, US · Historic District - [Manchester](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/manchester) — Virginia, US · Neighborhood [View all places to see bird's-eye speedwell](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/birds-eye-speedwell) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Bird's-eye Speedwell: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/birds-eye-speedwell)