Birdeye Speedwell is a weedy annual native to Eurasia but has naturalized throughout North America. It prefers partial to full sun, moist conditions, and rich loamy soil but is adaptable to poor soil. Most vegetative growth and development occurs during the cool weather of late winter or early spring. It blooms winter through early summer depending on the region and reproduces by seed. It is found in lawns, fields, gardens and other disturbed soil areas.
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Clay; Loam (Silt); Sand
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Occasionally Wet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 0 ft. 4 in. - 0 ft. 8 in. | Width: 0 ft. 4 in. - 1 ft. 0 in.
Canopy layer
5 - Groundcover (<1 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Horizontal; Prostrate; Spreading
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Alternate; Opposite
Leaf shape
Ovate
Leaf margin
Crenate; Dentate
Leaf size
< 1 inch long, < 1 inch wide
Hairs present
Yes
Leaf detail
Opposite oval leaves on the lower portion and alternate leaves on the upper portion. Leaves are up to 1/2" long and 1/3" across and are medium to dark green and slightly hairy with short stems.
Flower color
Blue; Purple/Lavender; White
Flower form
Solitary
Flower shape
Saucer; Star
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
1/3 inch small sky blue flower with dark stripes and a white center on thin, long, hairy stalks that originate in the axils of leaves. Green bracts have hairs.
Bloom time
Spring; Summer; Winter
Fruit color
Green
Fruit detail
Heart shaped fruit divided into two lobes containing 5-10 seeds per lobe.
Stem color
Brown/Copper; Red/Burgundy
Stem detail
Reddish stems are hairy, prostrate with the ends growing upright.