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Plants of blue vervain (Verbena hastata) in a garden.Robert Coxe, Image
Hoary Vervain (Verbena stricta) flowersEnglish: NPS Photo, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Common Buckeye Butterfly on a flowerDr. Thomas G. Barnes, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

(Verbena hastata)
Blue Vervain

Host Plant: Common Buckeye Butterfly

Nectar Plant: many insects including bees and flies

Flower Color: blue to purple, some cultivars are pink

Growth Habit: Herbaceous plant that grows to 2-5 feet tall

Range in North America: Most of North America except for the far northern reaches.

Exposure: Prefers full sun, but can tolerate partial shade to shade

Hardiness: Zones 3-8, does better in the cooler climates

Soil Requirements: Moist soils that are well-drained.  Can tolerate some dryness.

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Blue Vervain (Verbena hastata)

Blue Vervain (Verbena hastata) 'rosea' cultivar
Flowers of Blue Vervain (Verbena hastata) — Dominicus Johannes Bergsma, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Alternative Names

Simpler’s Joy, Purple Vervain, Wild Hyssop, Common Vervain, Blue Verbena, Swamp Verbena

Description of Blue Vervain (Verbena hastata)

Blue Vervain (Verbena hastata), a member of the Verbenaceae (Verbena Family), is a herbaceous perennial that grows to 5 feet tall and blooms in the summer and early fall with blue/purple flowers.

More about Blue Vervain can be found on this blog post.

Hosted Species

Common Buckeye (Junonia coenia)

Common Buckeye on flower – Dr. Thomas G. Barnes, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Nectar Species

Bees also use this plant as a nectar source.

Habitat

This species grows in moist open areas such as fields, roadsides, and meadows.

Range of Blue Vervain (Verbena hastata) in the United States and Canada

Range map of Blue Vervain (Verbena hastata) in the United States and Canada

Interesting Facts

The genus name comes from the Latin names for religious ceremonies and the species name means spear-like in reference to the flower cluster shape (Missouri Botanical Garden).

Webpages

North Carolina Extension Gardener

Missouri Botanical Garden

Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center

 

Native Location

British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Quebec, Saskatchewan, Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming

USDA Plant Hardiness Zone

Zone 3, Zone 4, Zone 5, Zone 6, Zone 7, Zone 8

Exposure Requirements

Full Sun, Part Shade/Part Sun, Shade

Plant Habit

Herbaceous

Soil Requirements

Medium, Moist

Hosted Species

Junonia coenia (Common Buckeye)

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