# Broadleaf Speedwell (*Veronica teucrium*)

Broadleaf Speedwell is a small plant with broad, green leaves and pretty blue flowers. It often grows in gardens and fields, making it a lovely sight in spring and summer.

- **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low
- **Habitat:** Grasslands

![Broadleaf Speedwell](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Veronica_teucrium.JPG&width=800)

Photo: Algirdas at Lithuanian Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Veronica_teucrium.JPG)

## Appearance

The Broadleaf Speedwell has upright stems with hairy, saw-toothed leaves. Its vibrant blue to violet-blue flowers bloom in long, slender clusters from the leaf axils, making it stand out in meadows compared to other small wildflowers.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Plantae
- **Phylum:** Tracheophyta
- **Class:** Magnoliopsida
- **Order:** Lamiales
- **Family:** Plantaginaceae
- **Genus:** Veronica

## Interesting facts

- Its scientific name, Veronica, might come from the legend of Saint Veronica!
- Look closely! Its tiny flower petals often have darker blue lines.
- People sometimes brew its leaves to make a healthy, earthy tea.
- This plant can grow happily even in tough, poor soil conditions!

## Special abilities

- **Resilient Spreader:** Broadleaf Speedwell can quickly form dense mats, helping it outcompete other plants and cover ground effectively.
- **Pollinator Beacon:** Broadleaf Speedwell has bright blue flowers that act like a beacon for busy bees, ensuring its seeds are made.
- **Hidden Healer:** Broadleaf Speedwell has leaves packed with vitamins, which historically helped people with coughs and other ailments.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 10-50 cm
- **Spread:** 15-45 cm
- **Flower Size:** 0.5-1 cm
- **Bloom Season:** Late spring to early summer
- **Edible:** Yes
- **Toxicity:** None
- **Lifecycle:** Perennial
- **Pollination Method:** Insect

## Ecological connections

- **Pollinates:** European honey bee (*Apis mellifera*) — visits flowers for nectar and pollen
- **Pollinates:** Common eastern bumblebee (*Bombus impatiens*) — collects nectar and pollen from blooms
- **Eaten by:** [European rabbit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/european-rabbit) (*Oryctolagus cuniculus*) — browses on its 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.
- [Summer Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/summer-blooming): Summer blooming plants produce their flowers during the summer season, often providing vibrant color when many other plants have finished.
- [Edible](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/edible): Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption.
- [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals.
- [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.
- [Pollinator](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator): Describes organisms that transfer pollen, enabling the fertilization and reproduction of plants.

## 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 Broadleaf 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 Broadleaf Speedwell?

10-50 cm

### How wide does Broadleaf Speedwell spread?

15-45 cm

### How big are the flowers on Broadleaf Speedwell?

0.5-1 cm

### When does Broadleaf Speedwell bloom?

Late spring to early summer

### Is Broadleaf Speedwell edible?

Yes

### Is Broadleaf Speedwell toxic?

None

### What is Broadleaf Speedwell's lifecycle?

Perennial

## 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*)

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Source: [Broadleaf Speedwell: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/broadleaf-speedwell)