“What’s that Plant?”

– Posted in: Native/Invasive, Plant info
5 comments

Every visitor to my garden this spring has asked me, “What’s that plant?” and I always have to answer, “It’s, um, a weed. A speedwell, I think.” And the reply is always, “Well, it sure is pretty.” It sure is. That’s why I haven’t pulled it. Honest. Actually, it’s done blooming now, but for my own satisfaction I looked it up in Weeds of the Northeast. It’s Veronica chamaedrys, known commonly as germander speedwell or bird’s-eye speedwell, and it’s considered a lawn weed. Well, so are bugleweed and Johnny-jump-ups and violets. I wonder what makes it weedy?

About the Author

Kathy Purdy is a colchicum evangelist, converting unsuspecting gardeners into colchicophiles. She gardens in rural upstate NY, which used to be USDA Hardiness Zone 4 but is now Zone 5. Kathy’s been writing since 4th grade, gardening since high school, and blogging since 2002. Find her on Instagram as kopurdy.

When dealing with frost it is always best to be paranoid. In the spring never think it is too late for one more frost to come. And in the fall never think it too early.

~Rundy in Frost

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bill July 12, 2003, 8:04 am

I like to say “a weed is anything you don’t want in your garden.” If you want violets they are not weeds. If you don’t want lawngrass then grass is a weed.

Talitha July 9, 2003, 5:08 pm

By the way, Mom, after our discusion about bindweed v. wild buckwheat, I did go up to my garden and check to see which I had. The happy answer? Both!!

Kathy June 27, 2003, 11:35 am

We have bindweed, too, but it doesn’t seem to be in my flower gardens (yet). I do have a lot of the wild buckwheat, though.

jason June 27, 2003, 10:58 am

Here’s what Utah Field Bindweed looks like. It really is the tool of the Devil.

jason June 26, 2003, 10:04 am

That is pretty. Here in Utah we have what’s called bindweed, but everyone calls it Morning glory. When it gets in large shrubs and trees it looks like the tree is blooming. I once drove by a home that was thick with the stuff and thought, “I didn’t know Pine trees bloomed.”