Family: Plantaginaceae

Origin, Description & Uses
Veronica plebeia, commonly known as creeping speedwell, is a low-growing herb native to Australia. It forms spreading mats of small, rounded to kidney-shaped leaves and produces tiny pale blue to lavender flowers on slender stems. This adaptable plant thrives in moist, disturbed habitats such as lawns, gardens, roadsides, forest edges, and agricultural areas. It has occasionally been grown as a groundcover or tolerated as a volunteer plant in landscaped settings, but it is more often encountered as a self-established weed.

Risks & Threats
Veronica plebeia is naturalized in Hawaiʻi and is known from Kauaʻi, Maui, and Hawaiʻi Island. It possesses traits that are cause for concern, including rapid spread by seed, the ability to establish in disturbed habitats, and persistence in cultivated and natural areas. These characteristics could allow it to detrimentally impact tropical island ecosystems by competing with low-growing native plants and other desirable vegetation. Because this species is already established in parts of the state, it is important to manage existing populations and avoid planting or spreading it into areas where it is not yet widespread. Whenever possible, choose a low-risk or native groundcover alternative to help protect Hawaiʻi’s unique ecosystems.

High Risk Traits:

• Elevation range exceeds 1000 m, demonstrating environmental versatility
  
• Thrives in tropical climates
  
• Naturalized on Kauaʻi, Maui, and Hawaiʻi Island (Hawaiian Islands)
  
• Lawn, pasture and disturbance weed
  
• Many Veronica species are invasive weeds
  
• Shade-tolerant
  
• Reproduces by seeds and vegetatively by rooting at nods
  
• Reaches maturity in 1+ years
  
• Seeds dispersed as a contaminant, by water and intentionally by people
  
• Able to resprout after fire

Low Risk Traits:

• Unarmed (no spines, thorns, or burrs)
  
• Non-toxic
  
• Not reported to cause significant problems to agriculture or natural areas