Veronica americana
American brooklime
Overview
Veronica americana is a sprawling perennial of wet ground reaching 4-12 inches (10-30 cm) in height, with succulent stems trailing 12-36 inches (30-90 cm) and rooting at the lower nodes. Leaves are opposite, ovate to lance-shaped, 1-3 inches (2.5-7.5 cm) long, glossy green, edged with shallow teeth, and carried on short stalks. From late spring through summer, slender racemes rise from the leaf axils bearing small flowers about 0.2-0.4 inch (5-10 mm) across, pale blue to violet with darker veins and a white center. The fruit is a flattened, notched, rounded capsule. It grows in streams, spring runs, marsh edges, wet meadows, and ditches across much of North America and into Asia, often standing in shallow flowing water. The plant spreads steadily by rooting stems and can colonize the margins of ponds and slow streams. It requires constant moisture or shallow water and full to partial sun; it does not persist in dry soil, and its spreading habit can outgrow small water features.
Native Range
Veronica americana is native across most of North America, from Alaska and Canada through the United States into Mexico, and extends into northeastern Asia. It grows in streams, spring-fed runs, marshes, wet meadows, and ditches, often rooted in shallow moving water.Suggested Uses
Used along pond and stream margins, in bog gardens, and in naturalized wetland plantings. It suits constantly wet sites and shallow water where few border plants survive. The young stems and leaves are edible and have a flavor similar to watercress.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height4" - 1'
Width/Spread1' - 3'
Bloom Information
Detailed Descriptions
Foliage Description
greenGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 4-8 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight
Care & Maintenance
Care Guide
Grow in full sun to partial shade in constantly wet soil, mud, or shallow water up to a few inches deep. This species suits pond margins, bog gardens, and the edges of slow streams. It does not survive in dry ground and wilts quickly without standing moisture. No fertilizer is needed, and the plant spreads readily once established. It is hardy across USDA zones 3-9 and overwinters as rooted stems or crowns. The vigorous spread can crowd smaller marginal plants and may need containment.Pruning
Trim back trailing stems through summer to control spread and keep plants within bounds at pond edges. Pull rooted stem sections to remove unwanted growth. No structural pruning is needed.Pruning Schedule
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
summer
Container Growing
✓ Suitable for container growing
Minimum container size: 2 gallons