Verbena hastata - Blue Vervain or Swamp Verbena
DESCRIPTION
Blue Vervain or Swamp VerbenaVerbena hastata
Tall, slender stems hold up 5 to 6 inch spikes of the most beautiful, lavender blue, flowers that bloom for several months! Some say the flower spikes are reminiscent of candelabras. The flowers attract butterflies and it is a host plant for the Common Buckeye butterfly. Don’t cut them back before spring because Cardinals, Sparrows and Junco’s enjoy eating the seed. This is an easy perennial to grow in bright sun with moist soil. It looks especially nice in rain gardens or along a ponds edge. Amazingly, blue vervain is native to every state in the U.S.
BENEFITS
- Attracts butterflies for several months each summer
- Songbirds like Cardinals, Sparrows and Juncos eat the seed
- This is a host plant for the Common Buckeye butterfly
- A beautiful addition to a rain garden
- Looks terrific grown at the pons edge between sedges and rushes
- Flowers for nearly 3 months!
NATIVE INFO
Native Range
Verbena hastata can be found in wet meadows, wet river bottomlands, stream banks and fields.
Interesting Facts
In ancient times the plant was thought to be a cure-all among medicinal plants. Blue vervain has been used by herbalists for over 3000 years in Europe, Africa and Asia.
GROWING TIPS
Easily grown in average, medium to wet soils in full sun. It can be short lived but will reseed itself in good locations.