Is this plant a weed?

Yes, it is widely considered a weed in lawns and agricultural fields.

How do I get rid of it?

Hand-pulling before it sets seed is the most effective method.

Plant guide

Corn speedwell.

Veronica arvensis

Pronounced veh-RON-ih-kah ar-VEN-sis

Also known as Common Speedwell, Corn Speedwell, Field Speedwell, Rock Speedwell, Wall Speedwell

corn speedwell — Photo by zebedeugalinha (CC BY) via iNaturalist

This little plant is a common sight in fields and gardens during the spring. It is a hardy annual that spreads easily through seeds. You will often find it popping up in lawns or disturbed soil.

At a glance

Care level: Easy
Plant type: Annual herb
Light: Full sun to partial shade
Indoor light: Direct sun
Water: Every 3 to 7 days
Mature size: 6 to 10 inches
Growth rate: Fast
Hardiness: USDA 3 to 9
Bloom time: Mid spring to early summer

Care

This plant thrives in full sun and prefers well drained soil. Keep an eye out for overcrowding if you want to keep it contained in a specific area. It is quite resilient and rarely needs extra attention.

Watering: Water when the top inch of soil feels dry to the touch.
Feeding: This plant generally does not require supplemental fertilizer.
Pruning: Trim back after flowering to prevent excessive seed dispersal.
Repotting: Since it is an annual, you will typically start fresh from seeds each year.
Soil: Well drained sandy or loamy soil
Soil pH: 6.0 to 7.5
Temperature: -20 to 30°C
Humidity: 40 to 70%

Safety

People: It is generally considered non-toxic, but ingestion is not recommended.
Children: Keep children away from areas where this plant grows to avoid accidental ingestion of unknown weeds.
Contact allergens: There are no known significant skin irritants associated with this plant.
Airborne allergens: The pollen may cause mild reactions in sensitive individuals during the flowering season.
Edibility: This plant is not considered edible and may cause stomach upset if ingested.

How to identify it

Small opposite leaves on lower stem
Tiny bright blue four lobed flowers
Hairy stems and foliage
Low growing spreading habit

Height: 0.05 to 0.25m
Spread: 0.1 to 0.3m
Leaves: green, deciduous
Flowers: blue, violet, 0.2 to 0.5cm
Fruit: brown, Summer

Problems to watch for

Powdery mildew · Fungal growth appearing as white dust on leaves during humid weather.

By symptom

Plant problems by symptom

Check your corn speedwell from a photo

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Growing it

Propagation: seed
When to plant: spring, autumn

This plant is best managed as a wild component of a meadow rather than a garden companion.

Grows well with

Common Chickweed · They often share the same disturbed habitats and soil conditions.

Similar species

Persian Speedwell · It is a related, larger species that also acts as a common garden weed.

Science

Family: Plantaginaceae
Genus: Veronica
Order: Lamiales
Class: Magnoliopsida
Native range: Europe, Western Asia, and North Africa.
Conservation: It is a widespread, non-native species in many regions and is not of conservation concern.

It thrives in disturbed soils and open fields where competition from taller plants is low.

Value to wildlife: nectar source
Pollinators: bees, butterflies
Uses: ground cover, wildlife garden

Through the year

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Flowering

Fruiting

Foliage

Ecological indicators

Salinity: 1/9
Soil reaction: 6/9
Light: 7/9
Temperature: 5/9
Moisture: 5/9
Nutrients: 4/9

Taxonomy resolved against GBIF.

Questions people ask

Is this plant a weed?: Yes, it is widely considered a weed in lawns and agricultural fields.
How do I get rid of it?: Hand-pulling before it sets seed is the most effective method.

Where the name comes from

The genus name honors Saint Veronica, while the species name arvensis means of the field.

Good to know

It is often called corn speedwell because it frequently appears in corn fields.
The tiny flowers are self-pollinating, which helps it spread rapidly.
It is an introduced species in North America from Europe.

Keep your corn speedwell growing

This page is a general guide. Save your plant in Pocket Botanist and you get care reminders timed for this plant, plus a care history that shows what worked.

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This guide was generated with AI on October 19, 2026 and checked against GBIF taxonomy. It is general information, not horticultural or veterinary advice. Read about how we build these guides.