Common Name: Marsh Speedwell

General Information

Veronica scutellata is a herbaceous perennial plant growing from a long, slender rootstock. The slender stem is ascending with trailing and rooting shoots at the base; it can grow 8 - 50cm tall[].
The plant is sometimes harvested from the wild for local use as a food.
This species is widespread with stable populations and does not face any major threats. The plant is classified as 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2013)[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

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Range

Widely spread in the northern temperate zones of Europe, Asia (including Turkey) and N. America (as far south as California and Virginia)

Habitat

Ponds, bogs, wet meadows etc, often on acid soils[]. In damp meadows, marshes, on shoal, in forest, forest-steppe and steppe regions, in mountains at elevations up to 1,800 metres[].

Properties

Conservation Status	Least Concern
Edibility Rating
Habit	Perennial
Height	0.20 m
Pollinators	Flies, Self
Self-fertile	Yes
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Easily grown in a moderately fertile, moist to wet soil or in shallow water. Prefers cool summers[].

Edible Uses

Leaves - raw or cooked. A bitter flavour[].

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.
If you have sufficient quantity the seed can be sown outdoors in situ in the autumn or the spring.
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.