Description

Stems are stout, square, grooved and green or reddish with white hairs. Lance-shaped, sharply toothed, green leaves. Numerous, stiff, pencil-like flower spikes branch upwards at stem ends, like the arms of a candelabra. Each blue-violet flower spike blooms from the bottom up. Attracts birds, butterflies. Larval host to common buckeye butterfly. Special value to native bees. Fun fact: Genus name is Latin for “sacred plant” because in ancient times the plant was thought to be a cure-all among medicinal plants. Spreads by thick, slowly-spreading rhizomes and self-seeding. Individual plants can be short-lived but V. hastata maintains a presence in the garden via self-seeding. Prefers to stay moist while tolerating periods of inundation. Cutting back the stems may encourage a branched bushier form. May deadhead to prevent excessive seeding, but you can feed the birds if you don’t! Wondering which of our two vervains you want? Here’s the difference: Verbena hastata has smaller flowers, stalked leaves that are longer and narrower, and prefers moist habitats. Verbena stricta has larger flowers, stalkless leaves, and a preference for dryer habitats. Height: 2-6 ft. Spread: 1-2.5 ft. Family: Verbenaceae Bloom time: July to September Sun: full sun Water: medium to wet Naturalize, rain garden photo credit: James St. John