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Veronica plebeia

Australian speedwell

Plantaginaceae Eastern Australia

Attracts Pollinators Container Friendly

SunPart Shade – Full Shade

WaterMedium

HardinessZones 9–10

Overview

A low, trailing perennial herb forming loose mats 2-6 inches (5-15 cm) tall and spreading 12-24 inches (30-60 cm) wide by creeping, hairy stems that root at the nodes. Leaves opposite, broadly ovate, 0.4-1.2 inches (1-3 cm) long, green, with toothed margins and a softly hairy surface. Flowers small, 0.2-0.3 inch (5-8 mm) across, pale blue to mauve with darker veining, borne singly or in loose clusters on slender stalks from the leaf axils. Flowering occurs spring through summer. Fruit a flattened, heart-shaped capsule about 0.1-0.2 inch (3-5 mm) wide. Spreads steadily over moist ground, rooting as it goes. Foliage thins in dry conditions and after frost.

Native Range

Native to eastern Australia in Queensland, New South Wales, and Victoria. Grows in moist, shaded sites in open forest and woodland and along creek banks, and as a weed of lawns and gardens on a range of soils.

Suggested Uses

Used as a low groundcover in moist, shaded borders and between paving at 8-12 inch (20-30 cm) spacing. Suits informal and native gardens where its spreading habit can fill gaps. Its self-seeding habit can make it a weed in lawns and formal beds.

How to Identify

Recognized by softly hairy creeping stems, opposite broadly ovate toothed leaves 0.4-1.2 inches (1-3 cm) long, and small pale blue to mauve flowers borne singly in the leaf axils. The fruit is a flattened, notched heart-shaped capsule about 0.1-0.2 inch (3-5 mm) wide. The hairy, ground-hugging habit separates it from upright Veronica spp. species.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height2" - 6"

Width/Spread1' - 2'

Reaches mature size in approximately 1 years

Colors

Flower Colors

Foliage Colors

Fall Foliage Colors

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~12 weeks

Spring Summer

Flowers spring through summer, with scattered flowers at other times in mild climates. The small pale blue flowers open a few at a time over an extended period. Each flower lasts only a day or two. Flowering is heaviest in moist, mild conditions.

Detailed Descriptions

Flower Description

Pale blue to mauve

Foliage Description

Green

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunPartial Shade SunFull Shade

Requires 2-6 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

Soil Requirements

pH Range5.5 - 7.5(Neutral)

357912

Soil Types

loam clay

Drainagemoist

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Medium

Frost Tolerance

hardy

Time to Maturity

1 year

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Water to keep the soil moist; growth slows and stems thin under drought. Grows in part shade to full shade and tolerates morning sun in cooler areas. Adapts to most soils with reasonable moisture. Spreads by rooting stems and self-seeds, appearing in lawns and garden beds. Foliage dies back in hard frost and regrows in spring. No fertilizer is needed in average soils.

Pruning

Trim or mow to keep the mat low and contain its spread; growth recovers from the rooting nodes. Remove stems creeping beyond the intended area. Cut back frost-damaged growth in late winter. No structural pruning is required.

Pruning Schedule

winter