Veronica anagallis-aquatica, commonly known as Water Speedwell or Brook Pimpernel, is a rhizomatous perennial herb native to temperate and subarctic regions of the Northern Hemisphere, including Europe and Asia. It typically inhabits riparian zones, wet meadows, and shallow water bodies such as streambanks and ponds. This species often reaches heights of 10-50 cm, with stems that can be either decumbent or erect and leaves that are oppositely arranged, lanceolate, and with serrated margins. The plant produces small, bright blue to violet flowers from late spring to early autumn, which are arranged in racemes and are moderately showy.

Water Speedwell is valued for its ability to thrive in wet conditions and is used for naturalizing in water gardens, rain gardens, and other moist environments. It requires consistently moist to wet soil and can tolerate a range of light conditions from full sun to part shade. While it is not particularly demanding in terms of soil type, it does prefer soils that are rich in organic matter. Gardeners should be cautious as Veronica anagallis-aquatica can be potentially invasive outside its native range, and it is advisable to check local regulations before planting.CC BY-SA 4.0