Veronica officinalis 

'Heath Speedwell'

[Ex. Co. Durham, England]

Scrophulariaceae: a delicate, mat-forming, hairy perennial to 10cm or more. Stems creeping, rooting at the nodes and are hairy all round. Grows in grassland, woodland and heaths. The flowers are 6-8mm across, lilac-blue with darker veins, in conical spikes, blooming from May-August. The leaves are oval, toothed, unstalked, hairy on both sides. Widespread and common. Native to Europe, including Britain, from Iceland south and east to Spain, Western Asia and the Caucasus.

USES:

A bitter tangy tea is made from the fresh flowering herb or the dried leaves. The dried leaves can be added to tea blends.

The leaves and roots have alterative, astringent, mildly diuretic, mildly expectorant, stomachic and tonic properties.

GROWING INFORMATION:

Surface sow seeds in situ in the autumn or the spring. Easily grown in a moderately fertile moisture retentive well drained soil. Prefers cool summers, and thrives in light shade or in open sunny positions.

HARVESTED: 

APPROX. 300+ SEEDS