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Veronica chamaedrys - L.

Common Name Germander Speedwell
Family Scrophulariaceae
USDA hardiness 3-7
Known Hazards None known
Habitats A common plant of grassland, woods, hedges etc[1, 13, 17].
Range Europe, including Britain, from Scandanavia south and east to Spain, north and western Asia.
Edibility Rating    (1 of 5)
Other Uses    (0 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (1 of 5)
Care (info)
Fully Hardy Moist Soil Semi-shade Full sun
Veronica chamaedrys Germander Speedwell


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Veronica chamaedrys Germander Speedwell
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Veronica_chamaedrys_Sturm37_clean.jpg

 

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Summary


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of flower
Veronica chamaedrys is a PERENNIAL growing to 0.5 m (1ft 8in).
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 3 and is not frost tender. It is in flower from March to July. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Insects. The plant is self-fertile.
It is noted for attracting wildlife.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Plant Habitats

Woodland Garden Sunny Edge; Dappled Shade; Shady Edge; Lawn; Meadow; Hedgerow;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Leaves
Edible Uses: Tea

The leaves are a tea substitute[177, 183].

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
Blood purifier  Skin  Vulnerary

The herb is a blood purifier and vulnerary[4]. It is applied externally to skin diseases and is said to be an efficacious treatment for the itch[4]. Internally, an infusion of the leaves once had a good reputation in the treatment of coughs, asthma, catarrh etc[4].

References   More on Medicinal Uses

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Other Uses

None known

Special Uses

Attracts Wildlife

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Easily grown in a moderately fertile moisture retentive well drained soil[200]. Prefers cool summers[200]. A good bee plant[24]. A common garden weed, it grows well in a lawn[200] and can be grown in the spring meadow[24]. It is also a good plant for the flower border[1].

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

Type a value in the Celsius field to convert the value to Fahrenheit:

Fahrenheit:

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The PFAF Bookshop

Plants For A Future have a number of books available in paperback and digital form. Book titles include Edible Plants, Edible Perennials, Edible Trees,Edible Shrubs, Woodland Gardening, and Temperate Food Forest Plants. Our new book is Food Forest Plants For Hotter Conditions (Tropical and Sub-Tropical).

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Plant Propagation

Seed - sow autumn in a cold frame. 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. 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.

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Native Range

TEMPERATE ASIA: Lebanon, Syria, Turkey (Balikesir, Bolu, Bursa, Eskisehir, Kastamonu, Kütahya, Samsun, Sinop), Russian Federation-Ciscaucasia (Ciscaucasia), Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Russian Federation (Dagestan), Russian Federation-Western Siberia (Western Siberia), Kazakhstan, China (Liaoning Sheng) EUROPE: Denmark, Finland, United Kingdom, Ireland, Norway, Sweden, Austria, Belgium, Switzerland, Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Netherlands, Poland, Slovakia, Russian Federation (European part), Belarus, Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, Moldova, Ukraine (incl. Krym), Albania, Bulgaria, Greece, Croatia, Italy, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia, Turkey (Istanbul, Tekirdag), Spain, France, Portugal AFRICA: Portugal (Azores, Madeira Islands)

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

Related Plants
Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther
Veronica agrestisField Speedwell, Green field speedwellAnnual0.1 0-0  LMHNM110
Veronica americanaAmerican Brooklime, American speedwellPerennial0.1 0-0  LMHSNWeWa21 
Veronica anagallis-aquaticaWater SpeedwellPerennial0.3 -  LMHNWeWa22 
Veronica arvensisCorn SpeedwellAnnual0.2 4-8  LMHNDM010
Veronica beccabungaBrooklime, European speedwellPerennial0.6 4-8  LMHSNWeWa11 
Veronica catenata Perennial0.0 -  LMHNWeWa10 
Veronica hederifoliaIvy-Leaf SpeedwellAnnual0.5 -  LMHNM01 
Veronica longifoliaGarden Speedwell, Long-Leaf SpeedwellPerennial1.0 4-10 MLMHNM10 
Veronica officinalisCommon SpeedwellPerennial0.1 3-7  LMHSNDM12 
Veronica peregrinaNecklace Weed, Neckweed, Hairy purslane speedwellAnnual/Biennial0.2 0-0  LMHNMWe020
Veronica politaGray field speedwellAnnual0.3 0-0  LMHNM21 
Veronica scutellataMarsh Speedwell, Skullcap speedwellPerennial0.1 5-9  LMHNWeWa10 
Veronica spuriabastard speedwellPerennial0.5 3-7  LMHNM10 
Veronica undulataUndulate speedwellPerennial1.0 0-0  LMHNMWe11 
Veronicastrum axillare Perennial1.8 -  LMHNM02 
Veronicastrum sibiricumBlackrootPerennial0.8 5-9  LMHSNM02 
Veronicastrum virginicumBeaumont's Root, Culver's root, Bowman's Root, Culver's Root, Black RootPerennial1.2 3-9 FLMHNM03 

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

Expert comment

Author

L.

Botanical References

17200

Links / References

For a list of references used on this page please go here

Readers comment

Mr Dene A Mitchell   Mon May 16 11:50:55 2005

my nane is Dene mitchell and i am doing a green keeping course this has been the best site i have found for information on the plans that are found in with grasses. one idear that would make life a lot easer would be if you also added a photo of the plant. i only saythis because i have spent the best part of 3 weeks serching around on the internet and only have a few days lest to compleat my work. i have seen and looked at over 12000 web pages and so far yours is the best i can find as befor a photo of the plant would help make your web site to be the best although more detail on the plant would also help the information i have gained from this site should be just about ok for a pass thanks for the site anyway keep up the good work

   Wed Oct 24 2007

The information about the soil that Veronica chamaedrys 'prefer' is just plain and simply wrong. You say that it prefers all 3 acidic, neutral and basic soils?! To point out just one flaw in this statement, Veronica chamaedrys can't grow in acidic soils and so saying that they 'prefer' acidic soils is ridiculous. If you wanted to say which that they prefer it would have to be basic or limestone base soil. This is because they are most abundant in soil of pH >6.0 and are pretty much non existant in pH <4.5 I just thought I would point that out to you.

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