Bloomipedia
Bird's-eye speedwell (Veronica persica)
Photo: Sandy Wolkenberg via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized

Flower profile

Bird's-eye speedwell

Veronica persica

Bird's-eye speedwell (Veronica persica) is a flowering plant in the Plantaginaceae family, introduced in the lower 48 states, blooming mostly February–April across the U.S.

Introduced in the lower 48

Bird's-eye speedwell is a wildflower that USDA PLANTS lists as introduced in the lower 48 states. It's on our flower lists for 12 states, and across the U.S. it's most often seen in bloom in February–April.

48states where USDA records it
12Bloomipedia state lists include it
40,897U.S. sightings*

*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.

On our lists for: Alabama, Delaware, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, New Jersey, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia

Quick look

Veronica persica is a flowering plant in the family Plantaginaceae. Common names include birdeye speedwell, common field-speedwell, Persian speedwell, large field speedwell, bird's-eye, or winter speedwell. The most widespread species of Veronica, it is native to western Asia but has been introduced worldwide.

  • It belongs to the Plantaginaceae family. iNaturalist
  • USDA PLANTS describes it as an herb (forb) with a annual life cycle. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS lists it as introduced in the lower 48 states and records it in 48 states. USDA PLANTS
  • In Virginia, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in February–April. iNaturalist
  • In Pennsylvania, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in March–May. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 3,940 research-grade sightings of it in Virginia, ranking #38 among the 189 flowers on our Virginia list. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 3,698 research-grade sightings of it in Pennsylvania, ranking #52 among the 190 flowers on our Pennsylvania list. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 3,330 research-grade sightings of it in Maryland, ranking #34 among the 189 flowers on our Maryland list. iNaturalist

When does it bloom?

Flowering records by month across the U.S. (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (4,452 records)
Bloom time in the 12 states whose Bloomipedia list includes it
StateTypePeak bloomSightings*
VirginiaIntroducedFebruary–April3,940
PennsylvaniaIntroducedMarch–May3,698
MarylandIntroducedFebruary–April3,330
North CarolinaIntroducedFebruary–April3,324
TennesseeIntroducedFebruary–April2,365
New JerseyIntroducedMarch–May1,389
LouisianaIntroducedJanuary–March799
UtahIntroducedFebruary–April641
Alabama–February–April635
KentuckyIntroducedMarch–April634
West VirginiaIntroducedMarch–April591
DelawareIntroducedMarch–April318

Conservation status

Federal (U.S. ESA)
Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. USFWS ECOS
NatureServe global
GNR Not yet ranked worldwide. NatureServe
State rare plant lists
Not listed Not on the official rare plant list in 8 of our 12 states.
See each state
Virginia
Not listed Not on Virginia endangered and threatened plant and insect species (2VAC5-320-10). NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in Virginia. 2VAC5-320-10
Pennsylvania
Not listed Not on Pennsylvania classified native plants (17 Pa. Code Ch. 45, Subchapter B, as amended 2023). NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in Pennsylvania. 17 Pa. Code Ch. 45
Maryland
Not listed Not on Maryland threatened and endangered plants (COMAR 08.03.08.05, .06 and .08). NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in Maryland. COMAR 08.03.08
North Carolina
Not listed Not on North Carolina Protected Plant Species List (02 NCAC 48F .0301). NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in North Carolina. 02 NCAC 48F .0301
Tennessee
Not listed Not on Tennessee endangered plants (Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0400-06-02-.04, Rare Plant Protection and Conservation Act). NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in Tennessee. TN rule 0400-06-02-.04
New Jersey
Not listed Not on New Jersey Endangered Plant Species List (N.J.A.C. 7:5C-5.1). NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in New Jersey. N.J.A.C. 7:5C-5.1
Kentucky
Not listed Not on Kentucky endangered and threatened plant lists (400 KAR 3:040, eff. 2026). NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in Kentucky. 400 KAR 3:040
Delaware
Not listed Not on Rare and Uncommon Plants of Delaware (DNREC, 2024; informational, Delaware has no state plant-protection list). NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in Delaware. DE rare plants 2024
Louisiana
No list Louisiana has no state list of endangered or threatened plants separate from the federal list, so we show federal status and NatureServe's Louisiana ranks. NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in Louisiana.
Utah
No list Utah has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Utah ranks instead. NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in Utah.
Alabama
No list Alabama has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Alabama ranks instead. NatureServe has no Alabama rank for it.
West Virginia
No list West Virginia has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants (only federally listed species are protected), so we show NatureServe's West Virginia ranks instead. NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in West Virginia.
Rare elsewhere
No other U.S. state ranks it S1, S2, SH or SX.

Checked October 17, 2026. Rankings and lists can change, so follow the links for the latest.

Can you eat it?

For peopleNot well documented

None of the sources we checked (NC State Extension (no edibility or poison notes on its page), USDA PLANTS) say whether it's edible or poisonous for people. NC State Extension

For petsNot well documented

It isn't on the ASPCA plant list, and NC State Extension doesn't flag it for pets.

🌿 Never eat a wild plant unless you're certain of its ID; this isn't medical advice. Worried about a person? Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Worried about a pet? Call your vet.

Where does it grow?

USDA PLANTS records bird's-eye speedwell in 48 states plus Washington, D.C.

recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded

See the full list of states

Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming; District of Columbia.

Virginia counties with USDA records: Accomack, Albemarle, Alleghany, Amelia, Amherst, Appomattox, Arlington, Augusta, Bedford, Bland, Botetourt, Buckingham, Campbell, Caroline, Carroll, Charles City, Charlotte, Chesapeake , Chesterfield, Clarke, Cumberland, Dinwiddie, Essex, Fairfax, Fluvanna, Franklin, Frederick, Giles, Gloucester, Greene, Greensville, Hampton , Hanover, Henrico, Henry, James City, King George, King William, King and Queen, Lancaster, Louisa, Lunenburg, Madison, Mathews, Mecklenburg, Middlesex, Montgomery, Nelson, New Kent, Newport News , Northampton, Northumberland, Nottoway, Orange, Pittsylvania, Powhatan, Prince Edward, Prince George, Rappahannock, Richmond, Roanoke, Rockbridge, Rockingham, Russell, Scott, Shenandoah, Smyth, Southampton, Suffolk , Surry, Sussex, Tazewell, Virginia Beach , Warren, Washington, Westmoreland, Wythe, York.

Pennsylvania counties with USDA records: Allegheny, Bedford, Berks, Blair, Bradford, Bucks, Cambria, Chester, Clearfield, Crawford, Cumberland, Dauphin, Delaware, Erie, Franklin, Fulton, Greene, Lackawanna, Lancaster, Lehigh, Mercer, Monroe, Montgomery, Montour, Northampton, Perry, Philadelphia, Somerset, Warren, Washington, Wayne, Westmoreland, York.

Names, range and relatives

Native status by region (USDA PLANTS): Alaska: Introduced; Canada: Introduced; Greenland: Introduced; Lower 48 states: Introduced.

Other scientific names (synonyms in USDA PLANTS): Pocilla persica.

County records: USDA PLANTS lists it in 483 counties across 41 states; the most are in Virginia (78), Louisiana (46), California (35).

Other Veronica on Bloomipedia (2): Heath speedwell, Snow queen.

More from the Plantaginaceae family (29 on Bloomipedia; most observed first): Butter-and-eggs (common toadflax), Purple foxglove, White turtlehead, Foxglove beardtongue, Canada toadflax, Culver's root, Texas toadflax, Balkan toadflax.

More Virginia flowers

American pokeweed (Phytolacca americana)

American pokeweed

Phytolacca americana

Native

🌼 Blooms in VA: June–September
Mayapple (Podophyllum peltatum)

Mayapple

Podophyllum peltatum

Native

🌼 Blooms in VA: April–May
Roses (genus Rosa) (Rosa)

Roses (genus Rosa)

Rosa

★ NY state flower🌷 Garden flower

🌼 Blooms in VA: April–June

Sources