Veronica scutellata
Marsh Speedwell
Taxonomy and growth
- Family
- Scrophulariaceae
- Genus
- Veronica
- Life cycle
- perennial
- Height
- 0.1 m
- Spread
- 0.3 m
- Fertility
- self fertile
- Flower type
- hermaphrodite
- Pollinators
- Flies, Self
Uses
Edible uses
Leaves - raw or cooked. A bitter flavour[3].
- Plant part
- Leaves
Environment
- Range
- Europe, including Britain, from Iceland south and east to Spain and northern Asia to N. Japan.
- Habitat
- Ponds, bogs, wet meadows etc, often on acid soils[1].
- Light
- full sun
- Shade tolerance
- no shade
- Water
- aquatic
- Hardiness
- Zone 6+
- 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. If you have sufficient quantity the seed can be sown outdoors in situ in the autumn or the spring. 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]. Dislikes shade.
References
Clapham, Tootin and Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press 1962-00-00
Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Harrington. H. D. Edible Native Plants of the Rocky Mountains. University of New Mexico Press 1967-00-00 ISBN 0-8623-0343-9