Water Speedwell
Veronica anagallis-aquatica
- Native to:
- Albania, Algeria, Austria, Azores, Baleares, Baltic States, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Canary Is., Cape Verde, Chad, China, Corse, Cyprus, Czechia-Slovakia, Denmark, Djibouti, DR Congo, East Aegean Is., Egypt, Eritrea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, India, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kirgizstan, Kriti, Krym, Lebanon-Syria, Lesotho, Libya, Madeira, Morocco, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, North Caucasus, Norway, NW. Balkan Pen., Pakistan, Palestine, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Sardegna, Saudi Arabia, Sicilia, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sudan-South Sudan, Sweden, Switzerland, Tadzhikistan, Tanzania, Transcaucasus, Tunisia, Türkiye, Türkiye-in-Europe, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, United States, Uzbekistan, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe
Stan Shebs
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Plantaginaceae
- Genus:
- Veronica
- Species:
- Veronica anagallis-aquatica
- USDA Symbol:
- VEAN2
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Biennial | Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Forb/herb
- Height:
- 100 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- Low
- Bloom Months:
- may,jun,jul,aug,sep
- Bloom Colors:
- blue, white, pink
Wildlife Benefits
- Bees:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Documented bee visitation (GBIF)
- Butterflies & Moths:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Documented Lepidoptera association (GBIF)
- Caterpillars:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Recorded caterpillar host plant (HOSTS Database)
Keystone Species Ranking
- Caterpillar Keystone:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Butterfly & moth species supported by this genus (NWF)
Host Plant for Caterpillars
Common Buckeye (Junonia coenia), Variable checkerspot (Euphydryas chalcedona)
Reported Fauna Sightings
Butterflies:Common Buckeye (Junonia coenia), Gray Buckeye (Junonia grisea)
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- bees, butterflies
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- rich, moisture-retentive loamy soil
- pH:
- 6.0 - 8.0 (neutral to slightly alkaline)
- Drainage:
- tolerates poor drainage
- Moisture:
- consistently moist
- Notes:
- Commonly found in wetlands and along streams
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- Cold/moist stratification required — 30–60 days
- Germination Time:
- 14–30 days
- Notes:
- Seeds require light for germination. Surface sow on moist soil.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI