Is this plant invasive?

It can spread quickly in ideal conditions but is generally considered a manageable ground cover.

Does it need full sun?

It grows well in full sun to partial shade and copes with fairly dry, well drained soil once established.

Plant guide

Heath speedwell.

Veronica officinalis

Pronounced veh-RON-ih-kuh oh-fiss-ih-NAH-liss

Also known as Common Gypsyweed, Common Speedwell, Gypsyweed, Heath Speedwell, Speedwell, Upland Speedwell

Heath speedwell is a charming, low growing perennial that spreads through creeping stems. It is a classic ground cover often found in open woods and dry pastures. You will love its delicate spikes of pale blue or violet flowers.

Another photo of Heath speedwell — Photo by Benjamin Schedl (CC BY) via gbif

At a glance

Care level: Easy
Plant type: Perennial herb
Light: Partial shade to full sun
Indoor light: Bright indirect
Water: Every 3 to 7 days
Mature size: 6 to 10 inches tall
Growth rate: Medium
Hardiness: USDA 3 to 9
Bloom time: Late spring to mid summer

Care

Let the soil dry slightly between waterings to mimic its natural home on heaths and in open woods, and never let it become waterlogged. Watch for wilting leaves as a sign it needs more water, or yellowing foliage if the soil stays too wet. It thrives best when given a bit of room to spread across the ground.

Watering: Water when the top inch of soil feels dry to the touch.
Feeding: Apply a balanced liquid fertilizer during the active growing season.
Pruning: Trim back spent flower spikes to encourage a tidy appearance.
Repotting: Repot if the plant becomes root bound or the soil loses its structure.
Soil: Well draining, slightly acidic soil
Soil pH: 6.0 to 7.0
Temperature: -30 to 30°C
Humidity: 40 to 70%

Safety

People: There are no known significant toxicity issues for humans.
Children: The plant is non-toxic, but small children should always be supervised around garden plants to prevent choking on small parts.
Edibility: While historically used in teas, it is not recommended for consumption due to lack of modern safety data.

How to identify it

Opposite, hairy, oval shaped leaves
Creeping stems that root at nodes
Small pale blue or violet flowers
Flowers arranged in axillary racemes

Height: 0.05 to 0.2m
Spread: 0.2 to 0.6m
Leaves: green, gray-green, semi-evergreen
Flowers: pale blue, lilac, white, 0.5 to 0.8cm

Problems to watch for

Powdery mildew · White fungal growth on leaves caused by poor air circulation or high humidity.

By symptom

Plant problems by symptom

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Growing it

Propagation: division, seed, cuttings
When to plant: spring, autumn

Plant this speedwell with other low growing woodland perennials to create a dense living mulch.

Grows well with

Wild Strawberry · They share similar light and moisture requirements in woodland settings.
Bugleweed · Both are excellent low growing ground covers that suppress weeds.

Similar species

Germander Speedwell · It has larger, more vibrant blue flowers but a similar growth habit.

Science

Family: Plantaginaceae
Genus: Veronica
Order: Lamiales
Class: Magnoliopsida
Native range: Europe and parts of Western Asia.
Conservation: It is a common and widespread species with no conservation concerns.

It thrives in open woodlands and grassy slopes by spreading via creeping stems that root into the soil.

Value to wildlife: nectar source, ground cover habitat
Pollinators: bees, butterflies
Uses: ground cover, rock garden plant, pollinator garden

Through the year

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Flowering

Fruiting

Foliage

Ecological indicators

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

Taxonomy resolved against GBIF.

Questions people ask

Is this plant invasive?: It can spread quickly in ideal conditions but is generally considered a manageable ground cover.
Does it need full sun?: It grows well in full sun to partial shade and copes with fairly dry, well drained soil once established.

Where the name comes from

The genus name Veronica is thought to honor Saint Veronica, while officinalis indicates its historical use in herbal medicine.

Good to know

It spreads by rooting at the nodes along its stems.
The name speedwell comes from the wish for a traveler to fare well.
It is a classic plant for naturalizing in woodland edges.

Keep your heath speedwell growing

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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.