Sky blue beauty

Photo Arne Ader
Translation Liis

Germander speedwell

Germander speed well     Külmamailane        Veronica chamaedrys

One of our common plants at forest verges, fields, meadows but also in yards where they should be allowed to expand in the lawn.

Each of the germander speedwell’s  a little flat sky blue flowers with slightly darker streaks is open for only 24 hours, but the plant flowers for weeks because new flowers open  all the time.

The flowers, in pairs, are set in the tip of the delicate flower stalk, and in each flower only two stamens can be seen (it is easy for insects to pollinate them). The germander speedwell may grow up to a metre tall but because of the weak stalk it often lies on the ground; in suitably humid habitats roots may develop on the stalks on the ground that allow the plant to spread further.