Veronica officinalis aka Speedwell

Veronica officinalis is a low perennial in the Plantaginaceae family. Its common names include heath speedwell and common speedwell. Its native range spans Macaronesia and much of Europe. It extends east to western Siberia and northern Iran. The RHS confirms that it is native to Britain and Ireland. It grows in temperate regions, in both open and wooded places.

Plants reach about 0.33 feet (0.1 metres) tall. Their stated spread is about 1 foot (0.3 metres). Yet runners can carry growth beyond that width over time. These may take the form of rhizomes or stolons. Plants For A Future describes the plant as evergreen. Wild habitats include heaths, moors, grassland, and dry hedge banks. It also grows in coppiced woods, often on dry ground. In gardens, it suits lawns, meadows, hedgerows, and sunny woodland edges.

Flowers appear from May to August. Each flower has both male and female organs. Flies and bees pollinate them, and plants are self-fertile. The supplied sources give no species-level details about flower colour or fruit. They also give no detailed account of leaf shape. The plant's low height and spreading habit define its garden form. Its flowers provide a link with visiting pollinating insects.

This speedwell is easy to grow in suitable soil. It prefers moderate fertility, good drainage, and soil that holds some moisture. It accepts sandy, loamy, and clay soils. It also grows across mildly acid, neutral, and mildly alkaline conditions. Choose full sun or light shade; cool summers suit it. It can grow in dry or moist soil. Plants For A Future lists USDA zones 3–7 and reports frost tolerance. Sow seed in autumn in a cold frame. Direct sowing is also possible in spring or autumn. Divide established plants in either of those seasons. Grow small divisions in pots before planting them out.

The fresh flowering herb makes a bitter, tangy tea. Dried leaves also serve in tea blends. Leaves and roots have a history of herbal use. Past uses included skin, wound, chest, and kidney complaints. Plants For A Future describes these uses as outdated in modern herbalism. It reports no known hazards, but this does not establish universal safety. It lists no weed potential and identifies no other uses. The supplied evidence names no specific pests or diseases.