Verbena hastata

Blue Vervain is a perennial wildflower species that grows about 1.5 m in height. It has a slender, upright form with reddish-green coloured, rough-haired stems. Its leaves are oppositely arranged, lance-shaped, and on short petioles with large serrations along the edge. Occasionally, there are two lobes present at the base of the leaves. The flowers are showy, blueish purple coloured, have five petals, appear on dense spikes at the top of flowering stems, and bloom between July and September. The flowers bloom first at the bottom of the spike, travelling upwards and blooming in bands. This plant spreads well and can form small colonies. The flowers are beneficial to pollinator species, like bees and butterflies. The seeds are also beneficial to wildlife species, like birds and small mammals.

Blue Vervain grows best in wet to moist conditions with full or partial sun exposure. It prefers rich loam or humus soil types. It is tolerant of deer grazing, periodically flooded areas, and drought. This wildflower can be naturally found around swamps or marshes, in bogs, and along river or lake shorelines.

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Scientific Name: Verbena hastata
Type: Ground Cover
Height: 1.5 m
Spread: 1 m
Moisture Level: moist, wet
Light Conditions: full sun, part sun
Soil Conditions: sand, clay, loam
Zone (Hardiness of Canada):