# thyme-leaved speedwell (*Veronica serpyllifolia*) Thyme-leaved speedwell is a small, lovely plant with tiny blue flowers. It grows close to the ground and can be found in many gardens and fields, making it a cheerful sight in nature. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 3 - **Habitat:** Grasslands ![thyme-leaved speedwell](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Veronica_serpyllifolia_W.jpg&width=800) Photo: Fornax, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Veronica_serpyllifolia_W.jpg) ## Appearance The thyme-leaved speedwell is a low-growing plant with creeping stems and small, oval, bright green leaves resembling tiny thyme leaves. It has delicate, cup-shaped flowers, usually pale blue to white, often marked with darker blue or purple veins, that bloom from the leaf axils. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Lamiales - **Family:** Plantaginaceae - **Genus:** Veronica ## Interesting facts - Despite its small size, a single plant can produce thousands of tiny seeds! - Each tiny speedwell flower remarkably possesses only two stamens! - Its name 'speedwell' might come from how quickly its petals fall off! - Some people once called it 'throatwort' for its traditional use in remedies. ## Special abilities - **Rapid Colonizer:** Thyme-leaved speedwell can spread quickly using its creeping stems that root where they touch the ground, helping it colonize new areas fast. - **Self-reliant Reproducer:** Thyme-leaved speedwell can self-pollinate its tiny flowers, which helps it reproduce successfully even when pollinators are scarce. - **Tough Groundcover:** Thyme-leaved speedwell has a tough root system allowing it to grow in poor soils, helping it thrive where other plants struggle. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 5-30 cm - **Spread:** 10-50 cm - **Flower Size:** 0.2-0.4 cm - **Bloom Season:** Spring to early 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 flowers for nectar and pollen - **Eats:** Red slug (*Arion rufus*) — Feeds on its leaves and stems - **Parasitizes:** Speedwell rust (*Puccinia veronicarum*) — Forms orange-brown spots on its leaves ## Traits - [Aromatic](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aromatic): Aromatic plants produce and emit fragrant volatile organic compounds, often for defense or to attract pollinators. - [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle. - [Fragrant Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fragrant-flower): Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense. - [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 check with an adult before touching or picking plants. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify thyme-leaved 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 thyme-leaved speedwell? 5-30 cm ### How wide does thyme-leaved speedwell spread? 10-50 cm ### How big are the flowers on thyme-leaved speedwell? 0.2-0.4 cm ### When does thyme-leaved speedwell bloom? Spring to early Summer ### Is thyme-leaved speedwell edible? Yes ### Is thyme-leaved speedwell toxic? None ### What is thyme-leaved speedwell's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Bean Hill Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bean-hill-historic-district) — Connecticut, US · Historic District - [Cambridge Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/cambridge-historic-district) — New York, US · Historic District - [Chelsea Parade Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/chelsea-parade-historic-district) — Connecticut, US · Historic District - [Prospect Park Zoo](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/prospect-park-zoo) — New York, US · Zoo - [Aldie Mill Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/aldie-mill-historic-district) — Virginia, US · Historic District [View all places to see thyme-leaved speedwell](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/thyme-leaved-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: [Thyme-leaved Speedwell: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/thyme-leaved-speedwell)