Veronica beccabunga
Bachbunge
Common names: Bachbunge-Ehrenpreis, Bornkresse
Photo: CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source
This description was machine-translated.
Description
Veronica beccabunga, commonly known as Bachbunge, is a native wild herb that grows along the edges of streams, springs, and ponds, forming lush green carpets. From May to late summer it produces small, bright blue flowers with a pale eye that attract bees and hoverflies. The fleshy, glossy leaves taste mild and slightly peppery, suitable for raw salads or as an addition to quark and herb butter. It thrives only in clean, flowing or slowly standing water; therefore it should be collected from unpolluted waters and washed thoroughly, as it can harbor the small waterweed *Lemna minor* in stagnant or polluted waters.
Care instructions
Veronica beccabunga requires constantly moist roots: a spot in shallow water, at the pond edge, or in a wet garden bed with a stream works best. Plant with ample spacing of 20–30 cm, as it spreads quickly via creeping, rooting shoots and forms dense stands. Regularly harvest the shoot tips to encourage bushy regrowth and keep the plant compact. It is winter-hardy, retreating during cold winters and reliably resprouting from the rootstock in spring. A sunny to partially shaded spot by water is sufficient; additional fertilisation is usually unnecessary.
Soil & site
Soil pH
Soil type
moist, humus-rich, nutrient-rich, lime-loving
Feeding
Medium feeder
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