Overview
Veronica arvensis is a small annual in the plantain family, growing 2-12 inches (5-30 cm) tall on slender, branching, softly hairy stems that are often erect but may sprawl. The lower leaves are oval, scalloped, and short-stalked, while the upper leaves are smaller and narrower. Tiny blue flowers about 0.1 inch (2-3 mm) across sit singly in the axils of leaf-like bracts along the upper stem, each with four unequal lobes and a pale center. Flowering runs from early spring into summer. The flowers are followed by flattened, heart-shaped seed capsules that release small seeds. Plants grow in lawns, gardens, fields, sidewalks, and disturbed ground, often on dry, sandy or gravelly soil. The species is a common cool-season weed that germinates in autumn or early spring and completes its cycle quickly. It self-seeds heavily but is shallow-rooted and easily pulled. Each plant is small but can occur in large numbers.
Native Range
Veronica arvensis is native to Europe, western Asia, and North Africa. It has naturalized almost worldwide and is a common weed in North America, Australia, and elsewhere. It grows in lawns, cultivated fields, gardens, roadsides, and other disturbed open ground.Suggested Uses
Rarely planted on purpose, corn speedwell appears mainly as a volunteer weed of lawns and disturbed soil. It forms early-season ground cover on bare ground before other plants emerge. Small bees and flies visit the tiny flowers.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height2" - 1'
Width/Spread2" - 8"
Bloom Information
Detailed Descriptions
Foliage Description
greenGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 4-10 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
Water & Climate
Water Needs
Care & Maintenance
Care Guide
Plants grow in full sun to part shade on dry, sandy or loamy soil and tolerate poor, compacted ground. They need no care and appear on their own as a cool-season weed in lawns and beds. Germination occurs in autumn or early spring, and plants flower and set seed before summer heat. Hand-pulling or hoeing before seed set is the usual way to limit spread. The species self-seeds heavily from abundant small seed. Plants die back after seeding in early summer.Pruning
No pruning is needed for this small annual. Mowing or pulling plants before the capsules ripen reduces self-seeding. Spent plants wither in early summer.✓ Toxicity
Non-toxicPlanting Guide
Planting Methods & Timing
Planting Method
direct sow