Native Plants

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Marcus, Joseph A.

Veronica americana

Veronica americana Schwein. ex Benth.

American Speedwell, American Brooklime

Scrophulariaceae (Figwort Family)

Synonym(s):

USDA Symbol: VEAM2

USDA Native Status: L48 (N), AK (N), CAN (N), SPM (W)

Erect or leaning, leafy stems have small blue flowers in several open racemes, 1 in each upper leaf axil.

Plants spread from rhizomes shallowly buried in the mud, and can quickly form dense patches in slow-moving or still water. The genus name may commemorate St. Veronica.

From the Image Gallery

10 photo(s) available in the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Herb
Fruit Type: Capsule
Size Notes: Stems decumbent or ascending, up to about 20 inches long.
Leaf: Green

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: Pink , Blue
Bloom Time: May , Jun , Jul , Aug

Distribution

USA: AK , AR , AZ , CA , CO , CT , DE , IA , ID , IL , IN , KS , KY , MA , MD , ME , MI , MN , MO , MT , NC , ND , NE , NH , NJ , NM , NV , NY , OH , OK , OR , PA , RI , SC , SD , TN , TX , UT , VA , VT , WA , WI , WV , WY
Canada: AB , BC , MB , NB , NL , NS , NT , ON , PE , QC , SK , YT
Native Distribution: Throughout much of Canada and United States, south to Mexico in the West; in East absent from southeasternmost states.
Native Habitat: Wet places.

Growing Conditions

Water Use: High
Light Requirement: Shade
CaCO3 Tolerance: Medium

Benefit

Conspicuous Flowers: yes

National Wetland Indicator Status

Region:	AGCP	AK	AW	CB	EMP	GP	HI	MW	NCNE	WMVE
Status:	OBL	OBL	OBL		OBL	OBL		OBL	OBL	OBL

This information is derived from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers National Wetland Plant List, Version 3.1 (Lichvar, R.W. 2013. The National Wetland Plant List: 2013 wetland ratings. Phytoneuron 2013-49: 1-241). Click here for map of regions.

From the National Organizations Directory

According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is on display at the following locations:

Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center - Austin, TX
Santa Barbara Botanic Garden - Santa Barbara, CA

Herbarium Specimen(s)

NPSOT 0783 Collected Feb 19, 1994 in Bexar County by Harry Cliffe

1 specimen(s) available in the Digital Herbarium

Bibliography

Bibref 1294 - The Midwestern Native Garden: Native Alternatives to Nonnative Flowers and Plants An Illustrated Guide (2011) Adelman, Charlotte and Schwartz, Bernard L.

Search More Titles in Bibliography

Web Reference

Webref 30 - Calflora (2018) Calflora
Webref 38 - Flora of North America (2019) Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.
Webref 23 - Southwest Environmental Information Network (2009) SEINet - Arizona Chapter

Additional resources

USDA: Find Veronica americana in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Veronica americana in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Veronica americana

Metadata

Record Modified: 2023-05-22
Research By: TWC Staff

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