It is native to Eurasia and is widespread as an introduced species in the British Isles (where it was first recorded in 1825[4]), North America, eastern Asia, including Japan and China, and Australia and New Zealand.

The short-stalked leaves are broadly ovate with coarsely serrated margins, and measure one to two centimetres (0.4 to 0.8 in) long.

The flowers are roughly one centimetre (0.4 in) wide[5] and are sky-blue with dark stripes and white centers.

Similar species - Veronica persica fruit have lobes that widely diverge to form a spreading 'V', and solitary flowers emerging from the stem with the leaf stalks, whilst the flower stalks are regularly much longer than the leaves.

Afghani herbalist, Mahomet Allum, used the plant to treat patients with heart trouble, in Adelaide, Australia, in the mid-20th century.