Veronica persica
Persian speedwell, Persian Speedwell
(c) Tim, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Tim · licence
Family: Plantaginaceae · Type: Herb · Not Native
Veronica persica (Persian speedwell) is a non-native California herb in the Plantaginaceae family, recognized by large flowers, long pedicels, and wide fruits are distinctive.
Persian speedwell is a naturalized annual found in California's Central Valley, Coastal Ranges, and desert southern regions in wet, disturbed areas and fields at elevations below 1,100 meters. Flowering from February to May, this plant produces blue flowers with purple lines and a white center, approximately 8 to 12 millimeters wide. Growing with prostrate stems 5 to 60 centimeters long, it spreads across the ground with simple or branched hairy stems. Its short-petioled leaves are ovate, 5 to 25 millimeters long, with crenate to serrate edges and acute to obtuse tips. Fruits are distinctively wider than long, with spreading lobes and tiny seeds that are roughly 2 millimeters in size.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 10 sympatric species; large flowers, long pedicels, and wide fruits are distinctive
Habitat and range
Habitat: Wet, disturbed areas, fields
Elevation: < 1100 m
California counties: Los Angeles, Tulare, Sonoma, Placer, Alameda, Trinity, San Mateo, Kern, Santa Clara, San Bernardino, Siskiyou, Riverside, Fresno, San Diego, Mariposa, Santa Cruz, Santa Barbara, San Joaquin, Yolo, San Luis Obispo, El Dorado, Lake, Amador, Calaveras, Sacramento, San Francisco, Modoc, Marin, Solano, Butte, Madera, Tehama, Colusa, Mendocino, San Benito, Ventura, Del Norte, Humboldt, Monterey, Contra Costa, Napa, Tuolumne, Nevada, Merced, Stanislaus, Yuba, Orange
Outside California: North America, native to Asia Minor
Bloom period
Veronica persica blooms Feb-May.
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 persica native to California?
No. Veronica persica is not native to California (recorded as not native).
When does Veronica persica bloom?
Veronica persica blooms Feb-May.
Where in California does Veronica persica grow?
Veronica persica occurs in Los Angeles, Tulare, Sonoma, Placer, Alameda, Trinity, San Mateo, Kern and other counties, at elevations of < 1100 m.
What plant family does Veronica persica belong to?
Veronica persica is in the Plantaginaceae family, genus Veronica.
What habitat does Veronica persica grow in?
Veronica persica grows in Wet, disturbed areas, fields.
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.