Urban Plants Archives - James Common

Speedwells (Veronica) in Newcastle and North Tyneside

In keeping with similar posts in this series exploring the plants uncovered during efforts to record the Urban Flora of Newcastle and North Tyneside, this week I wanted to take a look at a slightly more modest group of plants familiar from urban spaces nationwide: Speedwells.

So far, I have recorded 16 species of Veronica in Newcastle and North Tyneside, a much more manageable number than the 72 grasses covered here. With their cheerful blue flowers and propensity to bloom for most of the year in urban settings, Speedwells are a charming family and more so than many other plants encountered locally, are associated with highly anthropogenic habitats. Flowerbeds, roadworks, path sides, pavements, and other areas of disturbed ground, all are worth a look.

As always, a big thank you to the iRecorders who have made their photos available for use in articles such as this. In this case, Chris Barlow, Pru Hamed, and David Jarema.

Native Speedwells

Of the speedwells encountered so far in the conurbation, only eight are British natives. The rest are either neophytes—recent human introductions—or archaeophytes introduced many years ago. Of the native species, only a handful can be described as ‘common’ throughout the area.

Foremost among these abundant species is Wall Speedwell (Veronica arvensis), recorded from 42 (25.6%) of monads so far. An annual of disturbed and cultivated habitats, this species is most often encountered growing within the hard, free-draining surfaces of walls, pavements, and wasteground but is equally at home in neglected flowerbeds and on the margins of amenity grasslands. Anecdotally, it is more abundant in suburban neighborhoods where the spraying of weeds is less common.

The next two species, Germander Speedwell (Veronica chamaedrys) and Thyme-leaved Speedwell (Veronica serpyllifolia), are grassland plants. The former, recorded from 31 (18.9%) monads, is still greatly under-recorded but has defied expectations somewhat by proving scarcer than anticipated across the area. Typically, it is found either in good-quality neutral grassland, often that of road verges, or as a weed in garden lawns. However, it also occurs on the edges of amenity woodland and within urban hedgerows. Thyme-leaved Speedwell, recorded from 24 (14.6%) monads, inhabits much the same habitat but appears genuinely scarcer. It seems to favor long-established grasslands in churchyards and parks but may pop up in any suitable grassland area. It should be noted that all plants encountered so far are of the subspecies Serpyllifolia. I would not expect to see subsp. humifusa here, nor have I.

**Wall Speedwell** (*Veronica arvensis*)
© James Common

Similar in appearance to Germander Speedwell, at least at first, Wood Speedwell (Veronica montana) is a real rarity in the conurbation with fewer than 10 records since 1990. The majority of these are centered on Newcastle’s wooded denes at Jesmond, Throckley, and Walbottle, with a few records from other older woodlands. So far, this species has been recorded from 5 (3%) monads, all of which, except for a small patch at Heaton Park, come from these areas. Even where present, this plant is rather scarce and seldom forms the extensive colonies seen elsewhere in the county—a result of habitat degradation?

While a common plant of acidic soils elsewhere in the country, Heath Speedwell (Veronica officinalis) is likewise rare in Newcastle and its surrounds, recorded from 3 (1.8%) monads so far. Since 2000, there have only been eight records of this attractive little plant, predominantly from land close to Gosforth Park, much of which was once heathland. It is also present within relic lowland heath at Havannah Nature Reserve, though the greatest densities can be found within Gosforth Nature Reserve.

Heath Speedwell (*Veronica officinalis*)
© Chris Barlow

The final three native speedwells recorded so far are all plants of wetland habitats. Two are very scarce indeed, with Marsh Speedwell (Veronica scutellata) recorded from just 2 (1.2%) monads around established wetlands at Gosforth and Havannah, and Blue Water-speedwell (Veronica anagallis-aquatica) noted from just 1 (0.6%) monad at Gosforth Nature Reserve, where it grows on the muddy margins of recent SUDS.

Thankfully, Brooklime (Veronica beccabunga) is more abundant, recorded from 13 (7.9%) monads so far. This species can be encountered in a variety of wetland habitats ranging from the edges of lakes and ponds, SUDS, and streamsides to ditches and small wet depressions in built-up areas. It also appears to be one of the first riparian species to colonise new ponds, as seen at Kingston Park and Great Park.

**Marsh Speedwell** (*Veronica scutellata*) © Chris Barlow

Archaeophytes

Thus far, I have only encountered two archaeophyte speedwells during the survey, and both are rather common within urban habitats. Ivy-leaved Speedwell (Veronica hederifolia) is a prolific colonist of cultivated land, found just about anywhere the ground has been disturbed but most often as a weed of pavements, flowerbeds, wall bases, and allotment plots. Examples in urban habitats tend to be of subsp. hederifolia, which tolerates more open habitats than subsp. lucorum, which thus far has only convincingly been recorded from shaded woodland and parks. Together, these have been recorded from 61 (37.2%) monads.

Green Field-speedwell (Veronica agrestis), recorded from 28 (17.1%) monads, is much more abundant than it ought to be given its inclusion on the Rare Plant Register for South Northumberland. Indeed, despite only being recorded about ten times between 2000 and 2018, it is proving to be a frequent plant of disturbed habitats, though notably those with drier, freer-draining substrates than similar species. It may well warrant downgrading from the register in due course.

**Ivy-leaved Speedwell** (*Veronica hederifolia*)
© Chris Barlow

Alien Speedwells

Non-native speedwells now, and we’ll start with the simplest one: American Speedwell (Veronica peregrina), recorded from just 1 (0.6%) monad. A weed of cultivated and urbanised land, this attractive little plant was found growing in long-forgotten planters outside the Tyne Pedestrian Tunnel in North Tyneside. How long it has been there is unclear, but this seems to be a new population of what is, by all accounts, a rather rare neophyte locally.

**American Speedwell** (*Veronica peregrina*) © Ed Stikvoort via Saxifraga

Other alien speedwells are far more numerous. Take Common Field-speedwell (Veronica persica), for example, which genuinely seems to be the most abundant Veronica within the conurbation, recorded from 89 (54.3%) monads thus far. An annual of cultivated and disturbed soils, this species has an uncanny knack for popping up just about anywhere, from flowerbeds and pavements to arable fields and the margins of amenity grasslands. It will surely prove to be much more abundant still.

The same cannot be said for a similar species, Grey Field-speedwell (Veronica polita), which, while sharing the same habitats, appears altogether rare, recorded from just 4 (2.4%) monads to date. Past records of this species within the city are very scarce indeed, and befitting this, it has been recorded only scantly from a wall in Wallsend, a trodden path-side at Walker, and a few other locations.

Last but not least, we have Slender Speedwell (Veronica filiformis), recorded from 19 (11.6%) monads. Given its status as a successful weed of mown and amenity grassland, this one really ought to be more widespread, and I suspect it is significantly under-recorded due to my inability to access private gardens. Indeed, so far, it has predominantly been recorded from front lawns, churchyards, playing fields, and odd scraps of grassland left undeveloped within housing estates. Where present, it can be terribly abundant.

**Slender Speedwell** (*Veronica filiformis*)
© Chris Barlow

The final two Veronicas worthy of mention are not speedwells at all but Hebes. As they fall within the same family, they warrant inclusion here. Both Narrow-leaved Hebe (Veronica salicifolia) and Hedge Veronica (Veronica x franciscana) are rare escapes from cultivation in the conurbation, recorded from 3 (1.8%) and 2 (1.2%) monads, respectively. In the case of the former, where present, it appears to seed readily from older amenity plantings, while the latter seems to derive from planted garden hedges and is most commonly encountered within cracks in walls.

And there we have it, a round-up of the various speedwells encountered so far within Newcastle and North Tyneside. I have no doubt the numbers included here will change as the survey progresses, but at the very least, the results so far point to a few interesting trends.

10 Urban Plants on the Rise in Newcastle

Just for fun, take a quick look at 10 urban plants currently on the increase across Newcastle-upon-Tyne.

Our urban habitats are dynamic ones and when it comes to wildlife, things are always changing. This is perhaps most obvious in our wild and naturalised plants as new species arrive, others decline and our alteration of the landscape provides new opportunities for colonisation. While recording for ‘The Plants of Newcastle‘, it is becoming increasingly clear to me that certain plants are doing far better than others, and for a variety of reasons. Many of these are non-natives (neophytes) perfectly suited to the urban environment, while others are a tad more surprising. Just for fun, I thought we would take a look at ten of the most obvious examples here.

Guernsey Fleabane (Erigeron sumatrensis)

A tall, annual herb of well-drained, disturbed soils in gardens, along roadsides and in paved areas, this conspicuous plant is doing really well at present. A native of South America, it was first recorded in the UK from Guernsey in 1961 and has since spread across much of Southern England. Currently marching North, it is now fairly widespread in areas of the midlands and along the West coast but until recently, was rather rare this far North. This now appears to be changing and, since the first Newcastle record in 2009, appears to be expanding rapidly.

So far, I have observed Guernsey Fleabane from several city centre squares, as well as multiple suburban areas. In places such as Heaton and Walker, it even appears to be overtaking Canadian Fleabane (Erigeron canadensis) as the most numerous small-flowered species present.

Like Canadian Fleabane, Guernsey Fleabane has very small seeds which as easily dispered on the wind. If trends in the South are anything to go by, I suspect it will go on to become one of our most familiar urban plants.

Guernsey Fleabane (*Erigeron sumatrensis*) © Mark Welfare

Narrow-leaved Ragwort (Senecio inaequidens)

First recorded in Newcastle in 2012 by Quentin Groom, Narrow-leaved Ragwort shares a similar story to Guernsey Fleabane. First recorded on our shores in 1836, for a long time, this attractive plant remained a scarce casual occurring as a contaminant of wool shoddy. Since 1999, however, it has rapidly expanded along transport links (much like the story of Oxford Ragwort) and is now a familiar sight across much of Southern England and the Midlands.

Like the former species, this plant becoming increasingly prominent in the North at present and in Newcastle, is now appearing in a range of urbanised habitats, from recently disturbed roadsides to neglected front gardens. Interestingly, Narrow-leaved Ragwort appears most abundant in squares adjacent to the River Tyne; though for how long this will last I am unsure.

Narrow-leaved Ragwort (*Senecio inaequidens*) © Tim Johnson

Pirri-pirri-bur (Acaena novae-zelandiae)

Now this is an interesting one. A native of Australia and New Zealand Pirri-pirri-bur has been known from the Northumberland coast for many years. Here, it’s tenacious seed heads cause havoc for people and wildlife alike and are much maligned by land managers. While it is known to inhabit inland sites locally, most notably forestry tracks in the uplands, it is seldom thought of as an urban plant. Indeed, with only two recent records from Newcastle, we seem to have escaped it thus far.

Fast forward to the present day and this appears to be changing. I have now recorded Pirri-pirri from several habitats vastly different to the dunes in which I am accustomed to seeing it. Among these, relic heathland, wooded tracks, a church lawn in Gosforth and even on gravel driveways in High Heaton. While it is far from abundant, yet, I suspect this one may continue to increase in the future.

I do wonder if these initial colonies have their roots in populations on the coast, perhaps brought in by a passing dog or unsuspecting hiker? Either way, Pirri-pirri may go on to become one of our most unwelcome urban plants.

Pirri-pirri-bur (*Acaena novae-zelandiae*) © Chris Barlow

Italian Alder (Alnus cordata)

An attractive tree from Corsica and Southern Italy, Italian Alder was first introduced to the UK in 1820. To this day, this species remains a popular plant in landscaping and municipal planting schemes, a factor very much evident in Newcastle with rows of planted trees present on high streets and roadsides in various corners of the city.

Italian Alder is known to set prolific quantities of seed. This, coupled with a tolerance of dry, low-nutrient soils, means it is able to colonise a range of disturbed habitats in the city. Presently, it is particularly numerous along rail links and across areas of brownfield land in the city but increasingly, is also appearing as a weed in residential areas. In Heaton alone, I have noted this tenacious tree growing in pavements, gutters and even garden lawns, and the same appears to be true in Walker, Shieldfield and other districts.

Italian Alder (Alnus cordata) © Joe Dobinson

Hjelmqvist’s Cotoneaster (Cotoneaster hjelmqvistii)

As one of my favourite groups of plants, I had to include a cotoneaster on this list somewhere. Now, several species of alien cotoneaster are already rather widespread in Newcastle but until recently, Hjelmqvist’s Cotoneaser was not one of them. With just a single 2012 record from Ouseburn, it appears that it was historically quite scarce. This is certainly not the case now and this year alone, I have recorded this attractive species from eleven separate city monads, in a whole host of habitats. Like most cotoneasters, this one does well in stonework, walls and structures but also occurs in urban hedges, rail sidings, woodland and derelict land.

Like many cotoneasters, this species is popular cultivation and owing to the copious fruits it produces in autumn, is a draw to passing birds. It is for this reason that it has been able to spread so widely in Newcastle and is why it is usually observed as isolated plants. As I write this, a fine example of Hjelmqvist’s Cotoneaser is also growing under my garden bird feeders. Not planted, it surely must have arrived with a visiting thrush or pigeon.

Hjelmqvist’s Cotoneaster (*Cotoneaster hjelmqvistii*) © Rutger Barendse

Ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia)

The first birdseed alien on this list and one which represents perfectly a group of plants on the increase as a result of bird feeding.

A native of North America, Ragweed has been recorded as a casual in the UK since 1829 and is known to occur predominately as a contaminant of arable produce including animal feed, grain and oil seed. Nationwide, it occurs in a whole manner of habitats where its spread is limited only by harsh frosts.

With just a single record in Newcastle prior to the current survey at Walker Riverside in 2006, it seems this species has always been somewhat scarce locally. Is this changing? Well, in 2023 alone I have recorded it from four separate locations, three of which were urban parks where it finds a home in lakeside stonework close to where locals feed waterfowl. I have also observed it growing within pavements in Heaton, albeit close to bird feeders.

Interestingly, I first observed Ragweed in Leazes Park, one of the three sites mentioned above, in 2021. It has occurred there every year since but whether this is the result of continued introductions or evidence of a self-sustaining population, I am uncertain. Either way, it seems to be on the rise.

Ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia) © James Common

Greater Quaking-grass (Briza maxima)

The first alien grass on our list now with Greater Quaking-grass, a striking species native to the Mediterranean.. This annual grass is a fairly common sight in gardens and, seeding prolifically, is now common in Southern parts of the UK where it inhabits a variety of dry, bare habitats from pavements to arable margins. The naturalised range of this species does not extend into Northern England and, in my limited experience, populations here tend to be isolated and located close to gardens.

Prior to 2020, there were just three records of Greater Quaking-grass in Newcastle, notably coming from Jesmond and Heaton. In the latter of these, this grass is now a common component of our urban flora occurring on wall-tops, within gardens and across areas of pavement. Furthermore, it is now showing signs of spread with records from roadsides in High Heaton, Walker and St. Peter’s Basin. Given the trend elsewhere in the UK, I suspect we’ll be seeing much more of it in the future.

Greater Quaking-grass (*Briza maxima*) © Willem van Kruijsbergen

Water Bent (Polypogon viridis)

If the story of Briza maxima is a successful one, that of Water Bent is one of rampant success. Known as one of the ‘fastest spreading’ plants in the UK, this native of Southern Europe first arrived on our shores, or at least Guernsey’s, in 1860. For quite some time, it failed to move beyond the Channel Islands but in recent years, has undertaken a rapid advance North through Britain. It first reached Newcastle in 1981 but was not recorded again until 2022. In the time since (a mere two years), it has gone on to colonise several parts of the city and is now a familiar site along roads, wall bases and paved areas in Heaton, Jesmond, Manors and even in the heart of the city centre.

With isolated records now from Scotland, this plant is still very much on the move; though it still has some consolidating to do in Newcastle. Still, if the last two years are anything to go by, numbers can only go up.

Water Bent (*Polypogon viridis*) © Rutger Barendse

Small Scabious (Scabiosa columbaria)

Now, given that neophytes have dominated this list so far, you would be forgiven for thinking that alien species were the only ones doing well in our urban species. This is definitely not the case and several native species are also on the increase, including those introduced for their aesthetic value. Foremost among these in Newcastle seems to be Small Scabious, a species associated with hills, slopes and banks on calcareous soils elsewhere in the country. In South Northumberland, it is a rather rare plant, so much so that it warrants a place on the county’s Rare Plant Register; though in Newcastle at least, this is changing.

Small Scabious appears to be a regular component of seed mixes used by councils on derelict ground and poor soils. It has been introduced to several sites locally including Walker, Scotswood and Gosforth in this exact fashion. All of this means that its natural distribution, if indeed it was present locally, has been greatly masked. In total, I have now recorded this species from around a dozen squares where it seems to persist and spread quite readily on former industrial soils.

Small Scabious (*Scabiosa columbaria*) © Chris Barlow

Bee Orchid (Ophrys apifera)

A nice one to finish on and an example of a native species exhibiting a welcome spread into Newcastle’s urban habitats. Formerly a very rare plant, Bee Orchid is becoming increasingly abundant in a whole host of habitats across the city, from urban lawns and roadside verges to brownfield. It has now spread to such an extent that it is the orchid most likely to be encountered in built-up habitats.

Formerly a species of Southern counties, Bee Orchid was first recorded within the city in 2002. Since then, records have grown in frequency, reaching a peak in 2023 wherein it was encountered city-wide, including on a city centre lawn. This spread is thought to be a result of favourable climatic conditions and if this year is anything to go by, Bee Orchids will be brightening up our city’s greenspaces for many years to come.