Veronica arvensis aka Corn Speedwell

Veronica arvensis is a small annual in the Plantaginaceae family. Common names include corn speedwell, field speedwell and wall speedwell. Its native range spans Macaronesia, northwestern Africa and much of Europe. It extends east to southwestern Siberia and the western Himalaya. It is native to Britain and Ireland. This temperate plant grows in fields, lawns, roadsides and other disturbed places.

Plants branch near the base and grow fast. Their hairy stems may lie flat or rise upright. NC State gives heights of 0.17–0.67 feet [0.05–0.20 metres]. Its listed spread is 0.5–1 foot [0.15–0.30 metres]. RHS allows larger plants, reaching 1.64 feet [0.5 metres] in both dimensions. Lower leaves grow in pairs on short stalks. They are hairy, rounded to oval, with scalloped edges. Upper leaves are narrower and attach straight to the stem. These leaves alternate rather than growing in pairs. Leaf colour ranges from yellow-green to green.

Small blue to violet-blue flowers grow near the stem tips. They form slender racemes above the broader lower leaves. Each corolla has four lobes, backed by four hairy green sepals. RHS records flowers from spring through late summer. NC State gives a shorter season, from mid-spring to mid-summer. The fruit is a heart-shaped capsule with many yellow seeds. Each capsule measures about 0.01 feet [0.003 metres] long. Plants spread by seed and may form colonies.

Grow this speedwell in sun or partial shade. It accepts sand, loam, clay and shallow, stony soils. Acid, neutral and alkaline soils all suit it. Good drainage matters, but it tolerates poor soil. Conditions can range from moist to dry. RHS rates its hardiness H7; NC State lists USDA zones 6–9. It needs little upkeep and no pruning. RHS suggests wildflower meadows and gardens managed for wildlife. NC State also lists borders, pots and rock gardens. Butterflies visit it, while deer and rabbits tend to resist it.

Heavy self-seeding can make this plant a garden nuisance. Its shallow roots make unwanted plants easy to pull. Aphids may attack, but RHS reports few disease problems. Plants For A Future lists no known edible uses or hazards. That does not establish it as a food plant. Sources record past use for scurvy and skin complaints. They also describe applying the crushed herb to burns and ulcers. These are records of use, not proof of medical benefit.