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colorful fall leaves of rhus aromatica
Rhus aromatica ‘Gro-Lo’ (Fragrant Sumac) Photo © Mary Free
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Verbena hastata (Blue or Common Vervain)

Verbena hastata (Blue Vervain) stem and leaves in July
Verbena hastata (Blue Vervain) clump at the Sunny Garden in Bon Air Park in July.
Verbena hastata (Blue Vervain) flowers with brown-belted bumble bee in July.
Candelabra-like panicles of spikes of Verbena hastata (blue vervain) in July
Verbena hastata (Blue Vervain) in July.
Verbena hastata (Blue Vervain) at Meadowlark Botanical Gardens in August
Nutlets of Verbena hastata (Blue Vervain) in September.
Yellow bear caterpillar climbs a spike of Verbena hast

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Tried and True Native Plant Selections Blue or Common Vervain for the Mid-Atlantic Found naturally in meadows, floodplains, and swamps (and sometimes called swamp vervain), this native* blooms throughout the summer and into autumn, longer than most other perennials. Historically thought to be a cure for many ailments, it is still used for medicinal purposes today. Perennial Clumps, Close-ups,** in Landscape, Nutlets Height: 11⁄2–5 feet Spread: 1–21⁄2 feet Bloom Color: Blue to purple Characteristics Graceful, erect, clump-forming perennial Opposite, lanceolate, toothed green leaves on stiff, square, green or reddish stems w/ appressed hairs Small, tubular flowers with 5-lobed corollas on spikes in candelabra-like panicles bloom in rings a few at a time from bottom to top June–October Persistent calyx holds four reddish-brown nutlets Forms colonies slowly by spreading rhizomes and self-seeding; not reliably long-lived Attributes Tolerates wet soil, temporary standing water, and moderate drought; no serious pests or diseases Deer seldom severely damage; cottontail rabbits may eat tender, young foliage infrequently Ethnobotanic and current medicinal uses Attracts bees, wasps, flies, small butterflies, skippers, and moths to the flowers and birds to the seeds; larval host to ~10 lepidopterans, including Verbena moth & Common Buckeye Growing and Maintenance Tips Soil Requirements Rich Excellent Replacement for Lythrum salicaria - Purple Loosestrife Light Requirements: Sun, Partial Shade Lythrum virgatum - European Wand Loosestrife Water Requirements: Moist, Wet *It is native to DC and MD. It is common throughout DE and found in all PA counties. In VA, it is frequent in the mountains, infrequent in the Piedmont, and rare in the Coastal Plain. In NoVA, it has not been reported in Arlington County. **V. hastata visitors include: bumble, dagger, digger, furrow (probably Halictus, above middle), leafcutter (above left), honey, and small carpenter (above right) bees. Use in borders, meadows, native plant gardens, and rain gardens and near streams and ponds Hardiness: USDA Zones 3a-8b developed by Master Gardeners of Northern Virginia, serving Arlington and Alexandria Images by Elaine Mills and Mary Free (middle), Sunny Garden

Tried and True Native Plant Selections
for the Mid-Atlantic

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Verbena hastata (Blue or Common Vervain)

Found naturally in meadows, floodplains, and swamps (and sometimes called swamp vervain), this native* blooms throughout the summer and into autumn, longer than most other perennials. Historically thought to be a cure for many ailments, it is still used for medicinal purposes today.

*It is native to DC and MD. It is common throughout DE and found in all PA counties. In VA, it is frequent in the mountains, infrequent in the Piedmont, and rare in the Coastal Plain. In NoVA, it has not been reported in Arlington County. You can view the VA counties in which it has been reported here.

Video © Mary Free
This video shows the flowers of Verbena hastata in July and its developing seed heads and nutlets in September along with some of the pollinators and other insects that visit this plant.

Learn more about other Mid-Atlantic plants: 
Tried and True Native Plant Fact Sheets