Weed of the Week: Corn Speedwell

Corn speedwell (Veronica arvensis ) is also called common speedwell, rock speedwell, and field speedwell. In other words, it will grow anywhere! This plant is native to Europe, and its seeds germinate in the cool soils of fall and spring. On Cape Cod, corn speedwell often germinates in the fall and is a low, flat cushion in the spring. As the season goes on, this plant grows taller and has tiny blue flowers.

Remove common speedwell from gardens by hand pulling or hoeing early in the spring before it flowers. Once it starts to bloom, it will be producing seeds that will fall on the ground and germinate the following fall.

This Veronica is often found growing with other winter weeds such as bitter cress, and henbit. Resembles the chickweeds, which appear later in the summer.