Common Name: Garden Speedwell

General Information

Veronica longifolia is a herbaceous perennial plant growing from a long, creeping rootstock. It forms a cluster of one to several robust, erect, usually unbranched stems 40 - 120cm tall, occasionally to 150cm[, ].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food. It is often grown as an ornamental in gardens.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

, ,

Range

Eurasia - Norway to France, east through northern Asia to the Russian Far East and through Bulgaria to Turkey

Habitat

Steppes, grassy mountain slopes, meadows at forest edges and birch forests; at elevations up to 1,500 metres[]. Forest and inundated meadows.; steppe-forming areas, among bushy thickets[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Habit	Perennial
Height	0.70 m
Pollinators	Insects
Self-fertile	Yes
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Easily grown in a sunny position in a moderately fertile moisture retentive well drained soil[, ]. Prefers cool summers[].
A number of cultivars have been selected for their ornamental value[].

Edible Uses

Leaves and young shoots - raw or cooked. A famine food, they are only used when all else fails[].

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed - sow autumn in a cold frame[]. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and plant them out in the summer.
Division in autumn or spring[]. 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.