Veronica persica – Birds-eye Speedwell

This tiny flower, called Birds-eye Speedwell, is often overlooked because it is only about an eighth of an inch across. Many also consider it a weed. However upon close inspection, this flower is absolutely beautiful. With four petals and an interesting blue color, it requires some respect. It is native to Eurasia but has been introduced in many places around the world.

The annual plant grows and spreads like an ivy close to the ground. It has spade-shaped leaves with serrated edges. The stems are hairy. The flowers grow on short stems and have four petals, one smaller than the other three. The color is blue, with lighter blue on the bottom, and the petals have darker blue lines from the center to the outer edges. The seed heads are heart-shaped and have several seeds in each half.

Depending on the weather and zone, this flower can bloom from February through May. The flowers themselves don’t last that long, maybe a week or so. The plant then concentrates on developing seeds, which disperse beyond the bloom period. You have to look closely for this plant, but the striking blue can often be spotted with a careful eye, and the creeping ground cover can be spotted with a trained eye.