This plant is the woodland cousin of the well-known Bird's-Eye Speedwell (Veronica chamaedrys). The hairs on this Speedwell are found all round the stem but on V. chamaedrys they from two lines on opposite sides of the stem. The flower is a paler shade of blue in V. montana and as its name suggests you do tend to find it in woodland.

It is fairly common in England except perhaps for the green deserts of East Anglia. It is also common in Wales, Ireland and southern Scotland but it is uncommon in the far north.