Native Plant Trust

Verbena hastata

blue vervain


Verbena hastata makes for a great meadow planting when intermixed with other species. The tall blue/purple flower spikes stand above other plants and bloom for an extended period of time, from summer through fall.

Click on these links to read in detail:  General Description | Benefits | Ecology | References


Height: 24-48 in
Spread: 12-18 in
Hardiness Zone: 3-9


Bloom Color: Purple

Characteristics & Attributes

Cultivation Status
Species
Exposure
Sun
Part Shade
Soil Moisture
Wet
Average
Ecoregion
(83) Eastern Great Lakes Lowlands
(59) Northeastern Coastal Zone
(84) Atlantic Coastal Pine Barrens
(82) Acadian Plains and Hills
(58) Northeastern Highlands
Ornamental Interest
Summer Bloom
Attracts Wildlife
Other Pollinators/Wildlife
Attracts Bees
Host Plant
Tolerance
Compaction Tolerant
Additional Attributes
Low Maintenance
Fragrant
Landscape Use
Massing
Naturalize
Specimen
Meadow garden


North American Distribution


General Description

Bloom Description: Erect, broom-shaped inflorescence. Purple flowers bloom from the bottom up, mid summer to fall. Flowers are on straight and narrow spikes, densely clustered together.

Growth Habit & Shape: Biennial plant. Grows colonies through rhizomes and will self seed in ideal conditions.

Soil Preferences: Prefers wet, fertile loam. Can tolerate average-moisture soils.

Root Description: Fibrous and rhizomatous roots that slowly spreads to produce clonal colonies.

Garden Uses: Rain garden, pond border, wet meadow.

Best Management & Maintenance: Leave seed heads to allow for reseeding and to attract seed-eating birds to your yard. Will move around.

Common Problems: Does not do well in drought.

Benefits

Ornamental Value:

"Wildlife Benefits: Larval host plant for verbena moth (Crambodes taliformis) and common buckeye butterfly (Junonia coenia). Important food source for specialist bee, Calliopsis nebraskensis. Seeds are eaten by cardinals, swamp sparrows, field sparrows, song sparrows, and dark eyed juncos.

" Other Practical/Environmental Benefits: Flood tolerant, and can be used for stream bank stabilization.

Use in place of: Loosestrife

Ecology

Habitat:
Wet meadows and edges of streams, rivers, and marshes.


Response to Disturbance: Establishes quickly in disturbed wetlands.

Native State Distributions:
Canada: BC, MB, NB, NS, ON, PE, QC, SK
USA: AL, AR, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, MT, NC, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NV, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, VT, WA, WI, WV, WY


Wetland indicator status: FACW

Companion Plants:
Boneset thoroughwort (Eupatorium perfoliatum), spotted Joe Pye weed (Eutrochium maculatum), goldenrod (Solidago spp.)

References

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blue vervain - Verbena hastata from Native Plant Trust
blue vervain - Verbena hastata from Native Plant Trust