Verbena hastata

Etymology

From Latin: Verbena = sacred plant, and hastata = spear-shaped.

Native Habitat

Meadows, roasides, marshes, stream bans, shorelines

Garden Uses

Prefers full sun and average to moist soil

Overview

An attractive clumping perennial that blooms from mid-summer through early fall and attracts a large number of pollinators. Verbena prefers full sun and average to moist soil. In optimal growing conditions, it may form colonies by slowly spreading rhizomes and self-seeding. Verbena hastata can be effectively used in borders as well as informal naturalized areas. Can be short lived. In ancient times the plant was thought to be a cure-all and drunk as a tea to ward off vampires.

Leaves and Stems

The plants have multiple 2’ – 5’ tall, stiffly erect, rough square stems and spread about 1’-2’. The stems are green or reddish with white hairs. The leaves are opposite, simple, 6” long and 1” wide. They have sharply serrated edges, prominent veins and pointed tips.

Flowers

Many pencil-like flower spikes branched like the arms of a candelabra. Each flower spike has a ring of blue-purple tubular flowers at the bottom of the spike. The flowers bloom along the spike from the bottom upwards for about 6 weeks.

Fruit/Seed

Plants are prolific seed producers that readily reseed in the garden.

Animal Associates

Bees are important pollinators. It attracts butterflies, moths and beneficial wasps. It is a larval host to Junonia coenia (common buckeye butterfly). Birds forage for the seed in the winter.