Veronica beccabunga aka Brooklime

Veronica beccabunga, or brooklime, belongs to the Plantaginaceae family. Its native range spans Europe east to Mongolia and Iran. It also stretches from Macaronesia to Ethiopia. The species is native to Britain and Ireland. This plant grows in temperate regions and lives in wet places. These include streams, ditches, ponds, and wet parts of meadows.

Brooklime is a low perennial that trails across wet ground. Kew also classes its life form as a subshrub. Its hollow stems creep and take root as they spread. The rounded leaves are fleshy and often stay green through winter. Garden plants reach about 0.3 feet [0.1 metres] tall. Their spread reaches 4.9–8.2 feet [1.5–2.5 metres]. They may take five to ten years to reach full size. Small blue flowers rise above the leaves on short, upright spikes. Bloom runs from late spring through late summer.

Grow brooklime in full sun with soil that stays wet. It also grows along pond edges in shallow water. Water above the soil can reach 0.3 feet [0.1 metres] deep. It accepts clay, loam, sand, and chalk soils. Acid, neutral, and alkaline soils all suit it. The RHS gives it a hardiness rating of H7. Plants For A Future lists USDA zones 4–8. These ratings describe a plant suited to cold outdoor conditions.

Brooklime suits bog gardens, pond margins, and wildlife gardens. Plants For A Future also lists sunny woodland edges as suitable sites. Its rooting stems let it cover ground around wet garden features. Pruning serves mainly to keep its spread within bounds. Gardeners can make new plants by division or stem-tip cuttings. Aphids may attack it. Disease risks include downy mildew, fungal leaf spot, and fungal rot. Phytophthora and honey fungus may also affect plants.

The leaves can be eaten raw or cooked. They have a strong, sharp taste that limits their appeal. They can join salads or other strong-tasting cooked greens. Plants For A Future gives their food value a low rating. That source reports no known hazards, rather than proof of complete safety. It also records past medicinal uses for the leaves and whole plant. These include use for scurvy and as dressings for skin problems. Its medicinal rating is low; these records do not establish treatment benefits.