# Heath Speedwell (*veronica officinalis*)

The Heath Speedwell is a pretty little flower that blooms in shades of blue and purple. These flowers are often found in grassy areas and can attract butterflies and bees!

- **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 0/5 · No known danger
- **Snaps:** 32
- **Habitat:** Heath Speedwell grows in grasslands, meadows, and open woods across Europe.
- **Also known as:** Blue Speedwell, Common Speedwell, Speedwell

![Heath Speedwell](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Veronica_officinalis0.jpg&width=800)

Photo: Kurt Stüber \[1\], CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Veronica_officinalis0.jpg)

## Appearance

The Heath Speedwell has fuzzy, oval leaves that grow in pairs along creeping stems. Its tiny, pale blue to lilac flowers, often with darker stripes, appear in slender spikes, creating a delicate ground cover.

## Taxonomy

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

## Interesting facts

- Its creeping stems can quickly carpet a hillside in soft green.
- Its old name, "Forget-Me-Not," hints at its charm!
- People once brewed its leaves to make a refreshing "European tea."
- The tiny flowers are so delicate, they almost look like miniature orchids.

## Special abilities

- **Ground Hugger:** Heath Speedwell can spread its stems along the ground, forming dense mats that help it anchor and resist being trampled.
- **Moisture Magnet:** Heath Speedwell has tiny hairs on its leaves and stems that help it capture dew and reduce water loss in dry spots.
- **Tough Tangle:** Heath Speedwell has a strong, fibrous root system that helps it withstand poor, compacted soils and light foot traffic.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 10-30 cm
- **Spread:** 20-60 cm
- **Flower Size:** 0.5-1 cm
- **Bloom Season:** Summer
- **Edible:** Yes
- **Toxicity:** None
- **Lifecycle:** Perennial
- **Pollination Method:** Insect

## Ecological connections

- **Pollinates:** Honeybee (*Apis mellifera*) — Visits for nectar and pollen.
- **Pollinates:** Buff-tailed Bumblebee (*Bombus terrestris*) — An important pollinator species.
- **Eaten by:** Spanish Slug (*Arion lusitanicus*) — Slugs consume its leaves.
- **Eaten by:** [Roe Deer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/roe-deer) (*Capreolus capreolus*) — Deer browse on its foliage.

## Traits

- [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors.
- [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.
- [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material.
- [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night.
- [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:** 0/5 · No known danger

No special safety notes yet.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Heath 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 Heath Speedwell?

10-30 cm

### How wide does Heath Speedwell spread?

20-60 cm

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

0.5-1 cm

### When does Heath Speedwell bloom?

Summer

### Is Heath Speedwell edible?

Yes

### Is Heath Speedwell toxic?

None

### What is Heath Speedwell's lifecycle?

Perennial

## Where to spot

- [Ashton Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/ashton-historic-district) — Rhode Island, US · Historic District
- [Bald Eagle State Forest](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bald-eagle-state-forest) — Pennsylvania, US · Forest
- [Bartholomew's Cobble](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bartholomews-cobble) — Massachusetts, US · Nature Reserve
- [Berkshire Botanical Garden](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/berkshire-botanical-garden) — Massachusetts, US · Botanical Garden
- [Cedar Brook Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/cedar-brook-park) — New Jersey, US · Park
- [Currier Park Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/currier-park-historic-district) — Vermont, US · Historic District

[View all places to see Heath Speedwell](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/heath-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*)

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