# Germander Speedwell (*Veronica chamaedrys*) Germander Speedwell is a pretty little flower with bright blue petals. It often grows in grassy places and is loved by butterflies and bees. This flower is a cheerful sight in springtime! - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 15 - **Habitat:** Grasslands ![Germander Speedwell](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/%28MHNT%29_Veronica_chamaedrys_-_Plant_Habit.jpg&width=800) Photo: Didier Descouens, CC BY-SA 4.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:%28MHNT%29_Veronica_chamaedrys_-_Plant_Habit.jpg) ## Appearance The Germander Speedwell has striking blue flowers with four petals, the lower one noticeably narrower, often marked with dark veins. Its stems and heart-shaped leaves are covered in fine hairs, giving it a soft, slightly fuzzy look. This low-growing plant forms spreading mats. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Lamiales - **Family:** Plantaginaceae - **Genus:** Veronica ## Interesting facts - Ancient people called it 'Eye of the Virgin' because its bright blue flowers close so quickly. - Each flower has a white 'landing strip' for tiny insect pollinators to guide them to the nectar. - Its name 'Speedwell' comes from old English, meaning 'farewell,' perhaps because its petals drop fast! - Some say its closing flowers can predict rain, like a tiny blue weather station! ## Special abilities - **Weather Watcher Blooms:** Germander Speedwell can quickly close its delicate flowers to protect pollen from rain or even at night. - **Creeping Conqueror:** It has underground stems (rhizomes) that help it spread rapidly, creating new plants and forming dense patches. - **Fuzzy Fortress:** Its stems and leaves are covered in fine hairs, which can deter some small herbivores or help reduce water loss. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 10-30 cm - **Spread:** 20-50 cm - **Flower Size:** 0.8-1.5 cm - **Bloom Season:** Spring, Summer - **Edible:** Yes - **Toxicity:** None - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** Honey bee (*Apis mellifera*) — Gathers nectar and pollen from its flowers. - **Pollinates:** Buff-tailed bumblebee (*Bombus terrestris*) — Visits its flowers for nectar. - **Eaten by:** Heath Fritillary (*Mellicta athalia*) — Its larvae feed on the leaves of the plant. - **Eaten by:** [Garden snail](https://www.snappit.app/explore/garden-snail) (*Helix aspersa*) — Snails and slugs may graze on its foliage. ## 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. - [Fragrant Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fragrant-flower): Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [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. - [Rapid Growing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/rapid-growing): Rapid growing plants exhibit accelerated growth rates, quickly increasing in size and biomass within a short period. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always look but don't pick flowers, so they can keep growing for everyone to enjoy. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Germander 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 Germander Speedwell? 10-30 cm ### How wide does Germander Speedwell spread? 20-50 cm ### How big are the flowers on Germander Speedwell? 0.8-1.5 cm ### When does Germander Speedwell bloom? Spring, Summer ### Is Germander Speedwell edible? Yes ### Is Germander Speedwell toxic? None ### What is Germander Speedwell's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Berry Botanic Garden](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/berry-botanic-garden) — Oregon, US · Botanical Garden - [Devil's Kitchen](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/devils-kitchen) — Michigan, US · Nature Reserve - [Field Farm](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/field-farm) — Massachusetts, US · Nature Reserve - [Randolph Center Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/randolph-center-historic-district) — Vermont, US · Historic District - [Salem Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/salem-historic-district) — New York, US · Historic District - [Zoologická zahrada Děčín - Pastýřská stěna](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/zoologick-zahrada-d-n-past-sk-st-na) — Ústí nad Labem Region, CZ · Zoo [View all places to see Germander Speedwell](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/germander-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: [Germander Speedwell: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/germander-speedwell)