Veronica peregrina subsp. xalapensis
Purslane speedwell, Purslane Speedwell
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Family: Plantaginaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Veronica peregrina subsp. xalapensis (Purslane speedwell) is a native California herb in the Plantaginaceae family, recognized by small white flowers are distinctive.
Purslane speedwell is a California native annual found in the California Floristic Province, Southeastern Great Basin, and Desert regions in moist habitats at elevations up to 3,100 meters. Flowering from April to August, this plant produces small white to pale blue flowers less than 3 millimeters long. Growing with erect and generally branched stems 5 to 30 centimeters tall, it develops a distinctive taproot and is often glandular-hairy. Its lower leaves are somewhat spoon-shaped and oblong, ranging 5 to 25 millimeters long, with edges that are entire or slightly serrate. The fruit is a small obovate structure 3 to 4 millimeters long with a shallow notch at the tip.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 10 sympatric species; small white flowers are distinctive
Habitat and range
Habitat: Moist places
Elevation: < 3100 m
California counties: Lassen, San Bernardino, Sonoma, Riverside, Monterey, Contra Costa, Colusa, Butte, Yuba, Sutter, Los Angeles, Orange, San Diego, Tulare, Santa Barbara, San Mateo, Tuolumne, Siskiyou, Modoc, Plumas, Sacramento, Inyo, Santa Clara, Mono, Kern, Alpine, El Dorado, Calaveras, San Joaquin, Sierra, Shasta, Merced, Fresno, Mendocino, Tehama, Glenn, Nevada, Placer, Solano, Stanislaus, San Benito, San Luis Obispo, Napa, Amador, Humboldt, Madera, Lake, Santa Cruz, Del Norte, Trinity, Marin, Ventura, Alameda, Mariposa, Imperial, Yolo
Outside California: to western Canada, Mexico, South America
Bloom period
Veronica peregrina subsp. xalapensis blooms Apr-Aug.
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 peregrina subsp. xalapensis native to California?
Yes. Veronica peregrina subsp. xalapensis is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Veronica peregrina subsp. xalapensis bloom?
Veronica peregrina subsp. xalapensis blooms Apr-Aug.
Where in California does Veronica peregrina subsp. xalapensis grow?
Veronica peregrina subsp. xalapensis occurs in Lassen, San Bernardino, Sonoma, Riverside, Monterey, Contra Costa, Colusa, Butte and other counties, at elevations of < 3100 m.
What plant family does Veronica peregrina subsp. xalapensis belong to?
Veronica peregrina subsp. xalapensis is in the Plantaginaceae family, genus Veronica.
What habitat does Veronica peregrina subsp. xalapensis grow in?
Veronica peregrina subsp. xalapensis grows in Moist places.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.