Venus' Looking Glass
Legousia speculum-veneris
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Pl. 5EF9 — Legousia speculum-veneris
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IOverview
Overview
Venus' Looking Glass (Legousia speculum-veneris) is an annual forb or herb native to a wide range of countries including Albania, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, and others in Europe and the Middle East. This plant thrives in moist environments with light, medium, or heavy soil types, making it adaptable to various growing conditions. Known for its edible leaves, Venus' Looking Glass is also recognized for its ornamental value, though not extensively cultivated for this purpose. One distinctive feature of this plant is its light energy requirement, which is rated at 8 out of 10, indicating a preference for bright but not direct sunlight.
Quick answers
What is Venus' Looking Glass?
Venus' Looking Glass (Legousia speculum-veneris) is an annual forb or herb native to a wide range of countries including Albania, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, and others in Europe and the Middle East.
Growingconditions · propagation · uses
VCultivation
Cultivation
Venus' Looking Glass thrives in moist conditions and prefers light (sandy), medium, or heavy (clay) soils with a pH of 7.5–8. It is hardy in temperate regions and can be propagated by seed. This annual plant grows to about 0.3 meters tall and requires moderate sunlight. For optimal growth, keep the soil consistently moist and provide well-draining conditions. Harvest its edible leaves for culinary use.
Light
8/10
Water
Moist
Soil
Light (sandy), Medium, Heavy (clay)
Life cycle
Annual
Habit
Forb/herb
Mature size
0.3 m tall
Soil pH
7.5–8
Seasonal calendar
Northern hemisphere · UTC month is September
winterspringsummerautumnwinter
BloomJFMAMJJASOND
For first-time growers
How to grow Venus' Looking Glass for the first time
7steps
Start with Venus' Looking Glass as a simple, low-maintenance addition to your garden.
- 1
What you'll need
Seeds or young plants, a small trowel, and a watering can.
- 2
Best time to plant
Plant in spring after the last frost or in autumn before the first freeze.
- 3
Soil and container prep
Choose a location with well-draining soil that is slightly alkaline (pH 7.5–8).
- 4
Sowing or transplanting
Direct sow seeds in the ground or start them indoors about 6 weeks before planting outside.
- 5
First two weeks
Water regularly to keep soil moist but not waterlogged, and protect from extreme heat or cold.
- 6
Ongoing care
Provide light watering as needed during dry periods. Avoid overwatering, especially in clay soils.
- 7
Harvest or pruning
Prune dead leaves to maintain plant health but avoid cutting back too much.
VIEdible & utility
Edible & utility
Edible parts:Leaves
Edible uses: The Venus' Looking Glass plant is edible and its leaves can be consumed. Typically, the leaves are prepared fresh in salads or cooked as a green vegetable. They can also be dried for later use. SKIP
Contextrange · companions · related
VIIDistribution
29 native · 1 introduced
Distribution
29 native · 1 introducedDistribution across3 continents· 29 native· 1 introduced
Europe16 regions
native (16)AlbaniaAustriaBelgiumBulgariaCyprusFranceGermanyGreeceHungaryItalyNetherlandsPortugalRomaniaSpainSwitzerlandUnited Kingdom
Asia5 regions
native (5)IranIraqPalestineSaudi ArabiaTurkey
Africa1 region
introduced (1)Algeria
Broader regions
native:East Aegean Is., Kriti, Lebanon-Syria, Turkey-in-Europe, Yugoslavia
IXSpecimen gallery
1 image
Specimen gallery
1 imageXI
Explore further
Companion planting
XII
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Back to the cataloguePlant id · 5ef99f73-92a7-40ac-b478-23faaa317cfe
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