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Fothergilla gardenii (Witch Alder). Photo © Mary Free
You are here: Home / Plants / Tried and True Native Plant Selections for the Mid-Atlantic / Perennials / Verbena hastata (Blue or Common Vervain)

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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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-up,** In Landscape, Nutlets Height: 11⁄2–5 feet Spread: 1–21⁄2 feet Bloom Color: Blue to purple Characteristics Graceful, erect, clump-forming perennial Long, narrow, toothed green leaves on stout, square, hairy, green or reddish stems Small, tubular flowers with blue/violet corollas and 5 lobes on branched, candelabra-like spikes bloom in rings from bottom to top from June to October Four tiny, reddish-brown, oblong nutlets replace each flower Forms colonies 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 Medicinal uses Attracts bees, wasps, flies, small butterflies, skippers, and moths to the flowers and birds to the seeds; larval host for the Verbena moth Growing and Maintenance Tips Soil Requirements: Rich Light Requirements: Sun, Partial Shade Use in borders, meadows, native plant gardens, and rain gardens and near streams and ponds Excellent Replacement for Lythrum salicaria - Purple Loosestrife Lythrum virgatum - European Wand Loosestrife Water Requirements: Moist, Wet *It is native to DC, MD, and PA and common throughout DE. In VA, it is frequent in the mountains, infrequent in the Piedmont, and rare in the Coastal Plain. It is native to NoVA except for Arlington County. **A variety of bees visit V. hastata, including bumble, dagger, digger, furrow (probably Halictus, above middle), leafcutter (above left), honey, and sweat (Augochlorini, above right) bees. Hardiness: USDA Zones 3-8 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, MD, and PA and common throughout DE. In VA, it is frequent in the mountains, infrequent in the Piedmont, and rare in the Coastal Plain. It is native to NoVA except for Arlington County.

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