Verbena hastata L.
Blue vervain, blue verbena, swamp vervain, Simpler’s joy, common verbena
Kingdom Plantae Plants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae
Subkingdom Tracheobionta Vascular plants—plants with a “circulatory system” for delivering water and nutrients
Division Magnoliophyta Flowering plants, also known as angiosperms
Class Magnoliopsida Dicotyledons—plants with two initial seed leaves
Subclass Asteridae A large class that encompasses asters
Order Lamiales Aromatic herbs and shrubs, including lavender, lilac, olive, jasmine, ash, teak, snapdragon, sesame, psyllium, garden sage, mint, basil, and rosemary
Family Verbenaceae Verbena (vervain) family, about 3,000 species
Genus Verbena From the word meaning “vervain”
Species hastata “Spear-shaped”
About plant names...
Blue vervain is native to eastern North America. They have a preference for moist ground.
The first time I saw them, I thought I had caught them just beginning to bloom, since only a
small portion of each flower stalk was in bloom. But that's how they operate. Each flower stalk
looks a little like a fuse, with a burning blue spark hissing along its length.
Identification: Plants are 2-5′ (60-152 cm) high, with stiff red or green
stems that
are square in cross-section and sometimes coated with fine white hairs. They have opposite leaves
up to 6″ (15 cm) × 1″ (2.5 cm), serrated with teeth that vary in size. On the upper half of the
plant, the stem branches into several
stiff spikes up to 5″ (12 cm) long, with attractive blue-purple
flowers. Individual flowers are less than ¼″ (6.3 mm) around, with five petals.
Blooming begins at the bottom of each spike, moving upward as a ring of flowers. Flowers
appear from July to September. Fruits are four long, narrow nutlets that separate.
Online References:
Missouriplants.com
Illinois Wildflowers
The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
The USDA Plants Database
The Missouri Botanical Garden
The Jepson Manual
7/31/2023 · Otter Brook Preserve, Harpswell, Maine
7/20/2021 · Otter Brook, Harpswell, Maine · ≈ 3½ × 6″ (9.4 × 14 cm)
7/20/2021 · Otter Brook, Harpswell, Maine · ≈ 4 × 6″ (10 × 16 cm)
8/21/2013 · Rte 119, Groton, Massachusetts · ≈ 9 × 6″ (22 × 15 cm)
8/21/2013 · Rte 119, Groton, Massachusetts · ≈ 8 × 6″ (20 × 14 cm)
7/24/2010 · Acton Arboretum, Acton, Massachusetts · ≈ 15 × 10″ (39 × 26 cm)
8/21/2013 · Rte 119, Groton, Massachusetts · ≈ 6 × 9″ (16 × 23 cm)
7/31/2021 · Otter Brook Preserve, Harpswell, Maine · ≈ 7 × 11″ (18 × 28 cm)
8/21/2013 · Rte 119, Groton, Massachusetts · ≈ 9 × 6″ (23 × 16 cm)
7/19/2017 · West Virginia · ≈ 10 × 6″ (24 × 16 cm)
7/17/2010 · Maine Turnpike, Exit 25, Kennebunk, Maine · ≈ 8 × 12″ (20 × 31 cm)
Verbena hastata description by Thomas H. Kent, last updated 5 Sep 2023.
© FloraFinder.org. All rights reserved.
4/6/2021 · Otter Brook Trail, Harpswell Heritage Land Trust, Harpswell, Maine · ≈ 6 × 4″ (14 × 10 cm)
7/17/2010 · Maine Turnpike, Exit 25, Kennebunk, Maine · ≈ 7 × 4½″ (17 × 11 cm)
7/31/2023 · Otter Brook Preserve, Harpswell, Maine
7/31/2021 · Otter Brook Preserve, Harpswell, Maine
8/21/2013 · Rte 119, Groton, Massachusetts · ≈ 6 × 9″ (16 × 23 cm)
7/17/2010 · Maine Turnpike, Exit 25, Kennebunk, Maine · ≈ 8 × 5″ (19 × 13 cm)
7/19/2017 · West Virginia · ≈ 10 × 6″ (24 × 16 cm)
8/21/2013 · Rte 119, Groton, Massachusetts · ≈ 4 × 6″ (10 × 16 cm)
7/17/2010 · Maine Turnpike, Exit 25, Kennebunk, Maine · ≈ 11 × 7″ (27 × 18 cm)
7/31/2023 · Otter Brook Preserve, Harpswell, Maine
7/19/2017 · West Virginia · ≈ 10 × 6″ (24 × 16 cm)
8/17/2020 · Otter Brook Preserve, Harpswell, Maine · ≈ 7 × 4½″ (18 × 12 cm)
8/17/2020 · Otter Brook Preserve, Harpswell, Maine · ≈ 10 × 6″ (24 × 16 cm)
Range: Zones 3-8:
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