Bloomipedia
Heath speedwell (Veronica officinalis)
Photo: Bruce Cook via iNaturalist · CC0 · resized

Flower profile

Heath speedwell

Veronica officinalis

Heath speedwell (Veronica officinalis) is a flowering plant in the Plantaginaceae family, introduced in the lower 48 states, blooming mostly May–July across the U.S.

Introduced in the lower 48

Heath speedwell is a wildflower that USDA PLANTS lists as introduced in the lower 48 states. It's on our flower lists for 6 states, and across the U.S. it's most often seen in bloom in May–July.

34states where USDA records it
6Bloomipedia state lists include it
17,458U.S. sightings*

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

On our lists for: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Rhode Island, Vermont

Quick look

Veronica officinalis, the heath speedwell, common gypsyweed, common speedwell, or Paul's betony, is a species of flowering plant in the plantain family Plantaginaceae. It is native to Europe and western Asia. It has been introduced to North America and is widely naturalised there.

  • It belongs to the Plantaginaceae family. iNaturalist
  • USDA PLANTS describes it as an herb (forb) with a perennial life cycle. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS lists it as introduced in the lower 48 states and records it in 34 states. USDA PLANTS
  • NatureServe lists it as native to Massachusetts, Maine, New Jersey, Connecticut and Rhode Island. NatureServe
  • NatureServe lists it as not native to Vermont. NatureServe
  • In Massachusetts, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in May–June. iNaturalist
  • In Maine, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in June–July. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 1,649 research-grade sightings of it in Massachusetts, ranking #92 among the 188 flowers on our Massachusetts list. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 1,127 research-grade sightings of it in Maine, ranking #61 among the 160 flowers on our Maine list. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 960 research-grade sightings of it in Vermont, ranking #94 among the 159 flowers on our Vermont list. iNaturalist

When does it bloom?

Flowering records by month across the U.S. (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (1,253 records)
Bloom time in the 6 states whose Bloomipedia list includes it
StateTypePeak bloomSightings*
MassachusettsNativeMay–June1,649
MaineNativeJune–July1,127
VermontIntroducedJune960
New JerseyNativefew records (41)917
ConnecticutNativefew records (30)794
Rhode IslandNativefew records (3)156

Conservation status

Federal (U.S. ESA)
Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. USFWS ECOS
NatureServe global
G5 Secure worldwide. NatureServe
State rare plant lists
Not listed Not on the official rare plant list in 6 of our 6 states.
See each state
Massachusetts
Not listed Not on Massachusetts Endangered Species Act list (321 CMR 10.90). NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Massachusetts. MESA list
Maine
Not listed Not on Maine Rare Plant List (Maine Natural Areas Program, 2021). E and T are Maine's official endangered and threatened plants (12 M.R.S.); SC and PE are tracking categories. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Maine. Maine rare plant list
Vermont
Not listed Not on Endangered and Threatened Plants of Vermont (10 V.S.A. chap. 123; list of Feb 10, 2022). NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in Vermont. Vermont E&T list
New Jersey
Not listed Not on New Jersey Endangered Plant Species List (N.J.A.C. 7:5C-5.1). NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in New Jersey. N.J.A.C. 7:5C-5.1
Connecticut
Not listed Not on Connecticut Endangered, Threatened and Special Concern Plants (RCSA 26-306; 2015 list). NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Connecticut. CT E/T/SC list
Rhode Island
Not listed Not on Rhode Island Rare Plants 2016 (RI Natural History Survey, from the RI Wildlife Action Plan; informational, Rhode Island has no state plant-protection listing law). NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Rhode Island. RI rare plants 2016
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 page for this plant), USDA PLANTS) say whether it's edible or poisonous for people.

For petsNot well documented

It isn't on the ASPCA plant list.

🌿 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 heath speedwell in 34 states plus Washington, D.C.

recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded

See the full list of states

California, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming; District of Columbia.

Massachusetts counties with USDA records: Barnstable, Berkshire, Bristol, Dukes, Essex, Franklin, Hampden, Hampshire, Middlesex, Nantucket, Norfolk, Plymouth, Suffolk, Worcester.

Maine counties with USDA records: Androscoggin, Aroostook, Cumberland, Franklin, Hancock, Kennebec, Knox, Lincoln, Oxford, Penobscot, Piscataquis, Sagadahoc, Somerset, Waldo, Washington, York.

Vermont counties with USDA records: Addison, Bennington, Caledonia, Chittenden, Essex, Franklin, Lamoille, Orange, Rutland, Windham, Windsor.

Names, range and relatives

Native status by region (USDA PLANTS): Canada: Introduced; Greenland: Introduced; Lower 48 states: Introduced; St. Pierre and Miquelon: Introduced.

County records: USDA PLANTS lists it in 583 counties across 28 states; the most are in Virginia (79), Ohio (74), Pennsylvania (67).

Other Veronica on Bloomipedia (2): Bird's-eye 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 Massachusetts flowers

Butter-and-eggs (common toadflax) (Linaria vulgaris)

Butter-and-eggs (common toadflax)

Linaria vulgaris

Introduced

🌼 Blooms in MA: July–October
Canada toadflax (Linaria canadensis)

Canada toadflax

Linaria canadensis

Native

🌼 Blooms in MA: May–June
Roses (genus Rosa) (Rosa)

Roses (genus Rosa)

Rosa

★ NY state flower🌷 Garden flower

🌼 Blooms in MA: May–July

Sources