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The speedwell is best known for its healing properties. We reveal which varieties of the flower there are and what you have to consider when planting in the garden.

Speedwell is also known to many by its Latin name "Veronica" - it is an easy-care medicinal plant

Speedwell (Veronica) is easy to care for and has been used as a medicinal plant for centuries. The flowers of the plant also attract beneficial insects and other insects. So it's high time to grow speedwell yourself in your own garden, on the balcony or terrace. In this article we will tell you how to do this. Here you can find out everything about the origin, different types, the correct procedure for planting, the correct care and the use of Speedwell.

Speedwell: origin and characteristics

Speedwell is a genus of plants from the plantain family (Plantaginaceae) and is widespread in Central Europe with a large number of species. Some of these are also known as blue loosestrife in Germany. However, it is unclear where honorary prize comes from. However, it is assumed that the origin of the medicinal plant lies between Eastern Europe and Western Asia. Meanwhile, Veronica is distributed almost all over the world, it can be found in all temperate and also in many subtropical regions.

Veronica are perennials or annual herbaceous plants, which are usually rather small. The leaves are opposite and located close to the stem, sometimes with a short stalk. The flowers arranged in spikes are mostly blue, some with transitions to white or violet. The two long stamens of the flowers are particularly characteristic.

Speedwell Types and Varieties

In Germany alone you can find over 50 different wild speedwell species in all sorts of places. Some prefer very damp locations right next to streams, while others feel comfortable on dry grass. The growth forms are also very different and range from the rather inconspicuous meadow herb such as Germander speedwell to Veronica spicata with up to 40 centimeters high, long, blue flower spikes. Not every wild speedwell species is therefore suitable as a plant for the garden. Due to the large selection of different varieties,but you will surely find the right Veronica for every taste and every garden.

There are hundreds of different speedwell species worldwide with a variety of appearances

Here are some of the Veronica species native to Germany and their habitat requirements:

  • Speedwell, heather speedwell or blue loosestrife (Veronica spicata): (sandy) dry and nutrient-poor grassland
  • Bach Speedwell (Veronica beccabunga): springs, gapping reed beds
  • Mountain Speedwell (Veronica montana): Moist to fresh mixed deciduous forests
  • Speedwell or Forest Speedwell (Veronica officinalis): Coniferous and deciduous forests, heaths, avoiding lime
  • Field Speedwell (Veronica arvensis): Fields, Roadsides, Park Lawns
  • Rock Speedwell (Veronica fruticans): Rocky slopes, alpine pastures
  • Germander Speedwell (Veronica chamaedrys): herbaceous corridors, bushes and forest edges
  • Daisy Speedwell (Veronica bellidioides): Alpine, calcareous
  • Great Speedwell (Veronica teucrium): Full sun, moderately nutritious, neutral to chalky soil
  • Long-leaved loosestrife (Veronica maritima): Streamsides, mixed herbaceous corridors
  • Prone Speedwell (Veronica prostrata): Sunny, loamy, moderately fertile, moist, but well-drained soil
  • Nesselleaf Speedwell (Veronica urticifolia): Fresh mixed deciduous forests, Alps and Alpine foothills
  • Persian Speedwell (Veronica persica): Grows in all locations
  • Pads Speedwell (Veronica peduncularis): Sunny; loamy, moderately fertile, moist but well-drained soil
  • Quendel Speedwell (Veronica serpyllifolia): Roadsides, fresh meadows and pastures

Planting Speedwell: Location and Procedure

In May, once the Ice Saints are over, Speedwell can be planted in the garden. Of course, the plant can also be cultivated in a pot or balcony box. Which location is most suitable for your speedwell depends very much on the species in question. It is best to pay attention to the description of the species and the respective location requirements when purchasing the plants.

The best time to plant speedwell is in May

When and where to plant Speedwell?

  • Best planting time: mid-May
  • After the ice saints
  • Location adapted to the species
  • It is best to note the labeling on the plant pot

First prepare the soil for planting by loosening it well and removing weeds and stones. A planting hole is dug. In the next step, address the special needs of your Veronica species: If the species prefers rather dry soil and is sensitive to waterlogging, then lay down a drainage layer before planting, for example from gravel. Lime-loving species will thank you if you raise the pH of the soil by liming before planting. Now you ensure the right nutrient supply. To do this, work a fertilizer with an organic long-term effect into the soil. Our Plantura organic universal fertilizer is ideally suited for your speedwell and provides it with all the important nutrients gently and over the long term. The speedwell plant is then carefully removed from its pot and placed in the planting hole. It should be so deep in the ground that the bottom pair of leaves just sticks out of the ground. Then the planting hole is filled with the excavation and everything is well watered.

Step-by-Step Instructions: Plant Speedwell

  1. Loosen soil
  2. Dig planting hole
  3. if necessary Create drainage layer
  4. if necessary lime
  5. Enrich the soil with long-term fertilizer - for example with the Plantura organic universal fertilizer
  6. Detach speedwell plant from pot
  7. Put in the planting hole up to the bottom pair of leaves
  8. Fill up with soil
  9. Cast on

Maintain Speedwell: You should pay attention to this

Once Speedwell is planted, you'll have very little work with it. The medicinal plant is extremely undemanding and easy to care for. It is only happy to be watered on particularly hot days and during longer dry periods. Also, Veronica does not require excessive fertilizer. In the year of planting, you should carry out a basic fertilization, further fertilizer applications are no longer necessary this year. In the years that follow, give your speedwell a treat with fertilizer in the spring before flowering. It is best to use an organic fertilizer such as compost or a fertilizer with an organic long-term effect. Our Plantura organic universal fertilizer is produced sustainably and is free of chemicals. This is especially good for the environment, plants and animals.

And so that you can enjoy the delicate flowers of the speedwell for as long as possible, it is worth cutting off the faded shoots regularly. It is also recommended in early summer after the firstshorten the entire plant by a third. So you can look forward to a second bloom in late summer.

Maintain speedwell at a glance:

  • Water only during longer periods of drought
  • Fertilize before flowering with an organic long-acting fertilizer
  • Cut off faded shoots regularly
  • Prune the entire plant back by a third in early summer
Speedwell location requirements vary widely by species

Winter Speedwell

Is speedwell hardy? Many hobby gardeners ask themselves this question when the summer draws to a close. Since Veronica is a native plant species, all speedwell species are hardy. They can therefore also withstand temperatures below freezing. The medicinal plant therefore does not need any protection in the garden. However, speedwell plants should be protected in pots by moving them to a frost-free winter quarters or by insulating the pot. Covering potted plants with brushwood in winter also helps.

Increase Speedwell

The easiest way to propagate speedwell is by self-seeding. To do this, do not cut back the plant after flowering in early summer, but let it wither. This allows the plant to propagate itself through seeds. Another variant is targeted sowing. This can be done on the windowsill from mid-February or directly in the garden bed from mid-May. Another way to simply multiply speedwell yourself is to divide the plants. For this purpose, sections at least 15 centimeters long are cut from the mother plant in the spring. Each section should have at least one bud. The sections are planted and quickly grow into independent flowers.

Summary: Increase speedwell by division

  • By self-sowing: do not cut back in early summer
  • By sowing: prefer growing on the windowsill from February, outdoors from mid-May
  • By division: cut 15 cm long sections with at least one bud in spring

Speedwell as a medicinal plant: effect and application

Speedwell has been used for centuries - both in the kitchen and as a medicinal herb. Although the leaves taste too bitter for many, they are full of vitamins and iron and can therefore be used well in salads or green smoothies. The flowers also form beautiful splashes of color inWild herb salads.

Speedwell can be used both in cooking and as a medicinal herb

Even in ancient times, speedwell was considered a herb with a variety of healing properties. In the Middle Ages speedwell was used for diseases of the lungs and bronchi. It is also considered a remedy for poisoning. The herb was also used externally: against eczema, psoriasis or itching. Speedwell herb is still made into a tea today. This should have an expectorant, diuretic and calming effect. In addition, tea from speedwell is said to help against high cholesterol levels - but there is not (yet) any scientific evidence for this.

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Herbs