Veronica officinalis - Common Speedwell

Family:	Scrophulariaceae
Habit:	Perennial
Height:	0.1
Width:	0.3
Synonyms:
Range:	Europe, including Britain, from Iceland south and east to Spain, W. Asia and the Caucasus.

Veronica officinalis (Common Speedwell) is a Perennial which grows to a height of 0.1m and a width of 0.3m . It has a hardness rating of 3and is vunerable to frost.
Common Speedwell will flower in November to February. The flowers from this plant are hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and they are pollinated by Flies, bees

Soil Information

Common Speedwell will grow in light (sandy),medium (loamy),hard (clay) soil. It is / is important for the soil to be well drained.
The soil prefers the following PH / acid levels :
- pH of less than 6, Acidic soils
- pH between 6 and 8, Neutral soils
- pH greater than 8, Basic soils
Common Speedwell prefers either dry or moist soils

Ideal Planting Locations

Common Speedwell can grow in semi or areas with no shade.

Heaths, moors, grassland, dry hedgebanks and coppices, often on dry soils[4, 17].

Planting places suited to this plant described below.

• Grows within a woodland garden
• Grows on a sunny edge
• Planted in the lawn
• Suits a meadow
• Will grow in a hedge row

Cultivation Details

Easily grown in a moderately fertile moisture retentive well drained soil[200]. Prefers cool summers[200]. Thrives in light shade or in open sunny positions[14].

Edible Uses*

* See disclaimer
Edible Rating: 1/5
A bitter tangy tea is made from the fresh flowering herb or the dried leaves[2, 21, 46, 183]. The dried leaves can be added to tea blends[238].

• Tea - the various herb teas that can be used in place of tea, plus the genuine article.

Medicinal Uses*

* See disclaimer
Medicinal Rating: 2/5
The leaves and roots are alterative, astringent, mildly diuretic, mildly expectorant, stomachic and tonic[4, 9, 14, 21, 222]. They have been employed in the treatment of pectoral and nephritic complaints, haemorrhages, skin diseases and the treatment of wounds[4], though the plant is considered to be obsolete in modern herbalism[238]. The leaves are harvested in the summer and dried for later use[9].

• Alterative - Causes a gradual beneficial change in the body, usually through improved nutrition and elimination, without having any marked specific action.
• Astringent - Produces contraction in living tissue, reducing the flow of secretions and discharges of blood, mucus, diarrhoea etc.
• Diuretic - Acts on the kidneys, promoting the flow of urine.
• Expectorant - Clears phlegm from the chest by inducing coughing.
• Stomachic - Aids and improves the action of the stomach.
• Tonic - Improves general health. Slower acting than a stimulant, it brings steady improvement.

Propagation

Seed - sow autumn in a cold frame[200]. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and plant them out in the summer. If you have sufficient quantity, the seed can be sown in situ in the autumn or the spring. Division in autumn or spring[200]. Larger divisions can be planted out direct into their permanent positions. We have found that it is best to pot up smaller divisions and grow them on in light shade in a greenhouse or cold frame until they are growing away well. Plant them out in the summer or the following spring.

Known Hazards

None known

Other Uses

None known

Cultivars

no recorded cultivars

References

Flora of the British Isles.
Clapham, Tootin and Warburg.
Author: Clapham, Tootin and Warburg.
Rating:
Publisher : A very comprehensive flora, the standard reference book but it has no pictures.
Date of Publication : 1962

The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Huxley. A.
Author: Huxley. A.
Rating:
Publisher : Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
Date of Publication : 1992

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