Practical
Plants

Veronica officinalis

Common Speedwell

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Taxonomy and growth

Life cycle
perennial
Height
0.1 m
Spread
0.3 m
Fertility
self fertile
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Flies, Bees

Uses

Edible uses

A bitter tangy tea is made from the fresh flowering herb or the dried leaves[4][6][10][3]. The dried leaves can be added to tea blends[8].

Product or use
Tea

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

The leaves and roots are alterative, astringent, mildly diuretic, mildly expectorant, stomachic and tonic[9][11][1][6][7]. They have been employed in the treatment of pectoral and nephritic complaints, haemorrhages, skin diseases and the treatment of wounds[9], though the plant is considered to be obsolete in modern herbalism[8]. The leaves are harvested in the summer and dried for later use[11].

Product or use
Alterative
Product or use
Astringent
Product or use
Diuretic
Product or use
Expectorant
Product or use
Stomachic
Product or use
Tonic

Environment

Range
Europe, including Britain, from Iceland south and east to Spain, W. Asia and the Caucasus.
Habitat
Heaths, moors, grassland, dry hedgebanks and coppices, often on dry soils[9][2].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
light shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 3+
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[5]. 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[5]. 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[5]. Prefers cool summers[5]. Thrives in light shade or in open sunny positions[1].

References

  1. Holtom. J. and Hylton. W. Complete Guide to Herbs. Rodale Press 1979-00-00 ISBN 0-87857-262-7

    ↩1↩2

  2. Clapham, Tootin and Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press 1962-00-00

    ↩

  3. Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9

    ↩

  4. Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications 1972-00-00 ISBN 0-486-20459-6

    ↩

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

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  6. Lust. J. The Herb Book. Bantam books 1983-00-00 ISBN 0-553-23827-2

    ↩1↩2

  7. Foster. S. & Duke. J. A. A Field Guide to Medicinal Plants. Eastern and Central N. America. Houghton Mifflin Co. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0395467225

    ↩

  8. Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, London. 1995-00-00 ISBN 0-7513-020-31

    ↩1↩2

  9. Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-14-046-440-9

    ↩1↩2↩3

  10. Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959-00-00

    ↩

  11. Launert. E. Edible and Medicinal Plants. Hamlyn 1981-00-00 ISBN 0-600-37216-2

    ↩1↩2

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