Veronica officinalis L.

Spreading-hairy perennial, the stems with creeping base and assurgent tips and branches, 0.5–2.5 dm; lvs all opposite, elliptic or elliptic-obovate, narrowed to a ± petiolar base, 1.5–5 × 0.6–3 cm, 1.5–3 times as long as wide, rather finely serrate, the larger ones with mostly 12–20 teeth per side; racemes axillary, pedunculate, spiciform, the pedicels 1–2 mm, surpassed by the small, alternate bracts; cor light blue, sometimes with darker lines, 4–8 mm wide; fr 4 mm, broadly triangular-subcordate, shallowly retuse; style 2.5–4.5 mm; seeds 6–12 per locule, 1 mm; 2n=18, 32–36. Dry fields and upland woods; native of Europe, now well established throughout our range. Apr.–July.

It is a temperate plant. It grows in north temperate regions. It will grow in most soils. It does best in an open, sunny position. It is frost resistant but sensitive to drought. It suits hardiness zones 3-9.

The fresh flowering plant or the dried leaves are used for tea. They can also be used as a salad vegetable or potherb.

Plants can be grown by cuttings.