Practical
Plants

Veronica longifolia

Garden Speedwell

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Taxonomy and growth

Life cycle
perennial
Height
1 m
Spread
0.3 m
Fertility
self fertile
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Insects

Uses

Edible uses

Leaves and young shoots - raw or cooked. A famine food, they are only used when all else fails[1].

Plant part
Leaves

Environment

Range
N. E. and C. Europe to S.W. Asia, Mongolia, Korea and N. China.
Habitat
Steppes, grassy mountain slopes, meadows at forest edges and birch forests below 1500 metres in northwest China[3].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
no shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 4+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Drainage
well drained
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

Seed - sow autumn in a cold frame[2]. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and plant them out in the summer. Division in autumn or spring[2]. 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.

Cultivation

Easily grown in a moderately fertile moisture retentive well drained soil[2]. Prefers cool summers[2]. A number of cultivars have been selected for their ornamental value[2].

References

  1. Reid. B. E. Famine Foods of the Chiu-Huang Pen-ts'ao. Taipei. Southern Materials Centre 1977-00-00

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  2. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

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  3. Flora of China 1994-00-00 http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/

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