PlantFiles: Blue Vervain
Verbena hastata

I have a few plants in my garden - grows very well - in the wild they are very common, along with another species, produces the most purple flowers on roadsides in Eastern United States in mid Summer.

Once DH and I were walking along a trail high above a low-lying wetland that was awash in vivid, dark lavender-purple, and for a moment, it was as if I was inside a picture of a field of lavender in Provence, France in one of my gardening books. Such is the effect of a wide plain filled with blue vervain from a distance - beautiful and awesome. Up close, there must have been a couple dozen kinds of other plants down there with it, but all has now been trounced by the very invasive Polygonum cuspidatum (Japanese knotweed).

Begins to bloom late July in Coös County, NH alongside of damp rural roads.

Blooming in late summer/early fall here in west KY, Blue Vervain graces the roadsides and damp meadows with a long blooming period. The tall spikes have the appearance of a candleabra with tiny blue 'flames.

In ancient times, it was thought to cure all sorts of ailments and was highly regarded as 'big medicine'.

Found pretty much throughout the eastern half of the country, it seems to survive in a great variety of conditions, but prefers damp thickets, shorelines and roadsides.

This verbena grows into a large clump 4-5 feet tall. It has stiff erect stems, lance shapes foliage and a spiky candelabrum of flowers. The flowers may not be as large as the garden varieties of verbena but they are abundant and bloom for a very long time during the summer months. The tiny tubular shaped blossoms grow in whorls up the pencil shaped spikes and are a treat for bees and butterflies.
This is a medicinal species of verbena and has been used for centuries for it’s mild sedative affects as well as “female” ailments, stomach cramps, colds, fevers and other diseases. Its genus name is Latin for “sacred plant”. Early settlers believed it would ward off evil spirits. It’s a wonderful native to add to the garden.
This plant loves wet soils and can reach a height of 5 ft or taller if grown in a damp area. It will tolerate many other conditions but may remain smaller. Mine stays at 3 ft. grown in a heavy clay soil. Seeds will benefit from a fall sowing because a cold period improves the germination.