Gray Field Speedwell

Veronica polita

Native to:
Albania, Algeria, Austria, Baleares, Baltic States, Belarus, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canary Is., Corse, Cyprus, Czechia-Slovakia, Denmark, East Aegean Is., Egypt, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kirgizstan, Korea, Kriti, Krym, Lebanon-Syria, Libya, Morocco, Nansei-shoto, Netherlands, North Caucasus, Norway, NW. Balkan Pen., Oman, Pakistan, Palestine, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Sardegna, Saudi Arabia, Sicilia, Somalia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tadzhikistan, Transcaucasus, Tunisia, Türkiye, Türkiye-in-Europe, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Yemen

📍 View on iNaturalist →

Taxonomy

Division:
Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
Family:
Plantaginaceae
Genus:
Veronica
Species:
Veronica polita
USDA Symbol:
VEPO

Growth Characteristics

Life Cycle:
Annual
Growth Habit:
Forb/herb
Height:
30 cm
Light Requirements:
Full Sun
Drought Tolerance:
Medium
Bloom Months:
mar,apr,may,jun,jul,aug
Bloom Colors:
blue, violet
Ground Cover:
Yes

Keystone Species Ranking

Caterpillar Keystone:
★☆☆☆☆ Butterfly & moth species supported by this genus (NWF)

Garden & Ecology Notes

Wildlife Value:
bees

Soil Requirements

Soil Type:
fertile, well-drained loamy soil
pH:
6.0 - 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)
Drainage:
excellent drainage required
Moisture:
consistently moist

Propagation & Germination

Stratification:
Cold/moist stratification required — 30–60 days
Germination Time:
14–28 days
Notes:
Seeds germinate readily in spring with light exposure; cold stratification improves germination rates.

The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI