Green Neighbors Program

The Clark County Green Neighbors Program is coordinated by Clark County Public Health’s Solid Waste and Environmental Outreach to assist citizens with developing more sustainable lifestyles and building a strong environmental community in Clark County. Solid waste regional planning and programs are a cooperative effort of Battle Ground, Camas, Clark County, La Center, Ridgefield, Vancouver, Washougal, and Yacolt.

Clark County makes every effort to ensure the accuracy of the information provided on this website. However, due to the possibility of transmission errors, HTML browser capabilities, changes made since the last update to the site, etc., neither Clark County, nor any agency, officer, or employee of Clark County warrants the accuracy, reliability, or timeliness of any information published by this system, nor endorses any content, viewpoints, products, or services linked from this system, and shall not be held liable for any losses caused by reliance on the accuracy, reliability, or timeliness of such information. Portions of such information may be incorrect or not current. Any person or entity that relies on any information obtained from this system does so at their own risk.

In offering information on the web, Clark County seeks to balance our requirement for public access with the privacy needs of individual citizens. Information that appears on the Clark County website is part of the public record. By law, it is available for public access, whether by telephone request, visiting county offices, or through other means.

clark county logo

Contact Details

Call us
(360) 397-2121 x4352

Gentian Speedwell

  • Scientific Name: Veronica gentianoides
  • Garden: Lawn Alternatives Garden
  • Plant Type: Herbaceous Perennial
  • Evergreen/Deciduous: Deciduous
  • Sun/Shade Exposure: Full Sun
  • Moisture Requirements: Moist, well-drained

Plant Information

Easily grown in average, medium, well-drained soil in full sun. Tolerates light shade. Intolerant of drought. Best in consistently moist, humusy soils that do not dry out. Foliage is evergreen in the deep South, but dies back in the St. Louis area. Deadhead spent flower spikes to encourage additional bloom.

Noteworthy Characteristics
Veronica gentianoides, commonly called gentian speedwell, is a mat-forming perennial which typically forms basal foliage clumps (rosettes) of broad, oblong-lanceolate, glossy dark green, basal leaves (to 3" long). Foliage clumps slowly spread in the garden over time by creeping roots to form dense mats. Flowering stems rise from the rosettes to 20" tall and are topped with 8-10" long, loose, terminal racemes of blue flowers (1/2 to 3/4" wide) in late spring to early summer.

Genus name honors Saint Veronica who reportedly gave a handkerchief to Jesus so he could wipe sweat from his face on the way to Calvary, with some genus plants having markings that resemble the markings on the sacred handkerchief. Specific epithet means similar to gentian (Gentiana).

Problems
No serious insect or disease problems.

Data Source

http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org

Photo Credit

VEGE Full, VEGE Flowers, VEGE Buds, VEGE Leaves (©2022 Cheri Moland)