Veronica catenata
Chain speedwell
(c) Björn Sothmann, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Björn Sothmann · licence
Family: Plantaginaceae · Type: Perennial · Native
Veronica catenata (Chain speedwell) is a native California perennial in the Plantaginaceae family, recognized by pink flowers are distinctive among the genus.
Chain speedwell is a California native perennial found in the Central California Floristic Province and North Coast Ranges in wet meadows and slow streams at elevations below 2,500 meters. Flowering from July to September, this plant produces delicate pink flowers in small clusters about 3 to 5 millimeters long. Growing with ascending to erect stems 10 to 60 centimeters tall that root at the lower nodes, it spreads through underground rhizomes. Its lance-shaped leaves are dark green, clasping at the base, 25 to 90 millimeters long, and arranged alternately along the stem. The fruit is a small, notched structure 3 to 4 millimeters wide, characteristic of the speedwell genus.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 10 sympatric species; pink flowers are distinctive among the genus
Habitat and range
Habitat: Wet meadows, slow streams
Elevation: < 2500 m
California counties: Lassen, San Luis Obispo, Tulare, San Diego, Santa Cruz, Santa Clara, Monterey, Butte, Santa Barbara, San Bernardino, Napa, Colusa, Riverside, Inyo, Siskiyou, Shasta, Tehama, Modoc, Plumas, Alameda, Ventura, Tuolumne, Mariposa, Sacramento
Outside California: widespread United States, adjacent Canada
Bloom period
Veronica catenata blooms Jul-Sep.
How to tell it apart
vs Melaleuca: Melaleuca has bottlebrush flowers with numerous stamens; Veronica has simple four-petaled flowers with 2 stamens.; vs Nemophila: Nemophila has bowl-shaped flowers with leaves cut into lobes; Veronica has flat flowers and unlobed leaves.; vs Monardella: Monardella has flowers in dense heads with minty aroma; Veronica has scattered four-petaled flowers, no scent.; vs Ludwigia: Ludwigia has bright yellow four-petaled flowers; Veronica has blue, white, or pink flowers in racemes.; vs Lysimachia: Lysimachia has five petals and five sepals; Veronica has four petals and four sepals.
Frequently asked questions
Is Veronica catenata native to California?
Yes. Veronica catenata is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Veronica catenata bloom?
Veronica catenata blooms Jul-Sep.
Where in California does Veronica catenata grow?
Veronica catenata occurs in Lassen, San Luis Obispo, Tulare, San Diego, Santa Cruz, Santa Clara, Monterey, Butte and other counties, at elevations of < 2500 m.
What plant family does Veronica catenata belong to?
Veronica catenata is in the Plantaginaceae family, genus Veronica.
What habitat does Veronica catenata grow in?
Veronica catenata grows in Wet meadows, slow streams.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-06
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.