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Weed Identification

Virginia Tech College of Agriculture and Life Science Virginia Cooperative Extension

thymeleaf speedwell

Family

Scrophulariaceae

Scientific Name

Veronica serpyllifolia
Weed photograph 1
Weed photograph 2
Weed photograph 3
Weed photograph 4
Weed photograph 5
Weed photograph 6

Habit

A low growing (2 to 6 in usually but up to 14 in) succulent perennial plant with ascending branched stems that radiate from the base of the plant. Plants grow mainly in the fall and branch at the base, root at nodes, and quickly form a dense mat. Most flowers are produced in late spring but flowering continues into August.

Leaves

Lower leaves are opposite, may or may not have hairs, wider than long, and have edges that are jagged with the sparse pointed or rounded teeth. Upper leaves on flowering stalks are alternate, do not have petioles (leaf stalks), and tend to be more narrow with fewer teeth and generally smaller than lower leaves.

Identifying Characteristics

Upper leaves are smaller and more narrow than lower leaves and lack stalks. Fruit is flat and heart shaped. Flowers are tiny and borne on extremely short stalks

Flower Seed Head

Flowers are tiny (2 to 4 mm wide) and found nestled in the leaf axils on the upper portion of the erect flowering stem. Flowers are blue, pale blue, or white and borne singly on short (> 1 mm) stalks.

Seed Fruit

Fruit is a small (5 to 10 mm long) heart-shaped pod. It is deeply notched on the top and rounded or pointed on the opposite end (point of attachment).

Where Found

Plants grow in lawns, ornamental areas, and winter grain crops. You can also find the plants in open waste places or home gardens but they do not thrive in areas where regular spring tillage is practiced. Plants may be found in many conditions but are best adapted to dry or sandy soils and shady lawns.

Growth Habit

Varies: 
upright and nonwoody, 
prostrate and nonwoody

Thorns or Spines

not present

Approximate Flower Diameter

pencil

Dominant Flower Color

Varies: 
white, 
blue, 
purple

Flower Symmetry

bilateral symmetry

Leaf Hairs

Varies: 
has hairs, 
no hairs

Leaf Shape

Varies: 
lance, 
oval

Leaf Arrangement

opposite

Leaf Margin

Varies: 
entire, 
serrated

Leaf Structure

simple

Leaf Stalk

Varies: 
none, 
shorter than leaf

Stem Hairs

no hairs

Stem Cross Section

round or oval

Milky Sap

not present

Root Structure

Varies: 
fibrous, 
rhizomes present

Life Cycle

perennial

Ochrea

not present

Plant Type

Herb