Swamp Verbena (Verbena hastata)

Swamp Verbena

(Verbena hastata)

James St. John

CC BY 2.0

Image By: James St. John

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Estimated Native Range

Summary

Verbena hastata, commonly known as Swamp Verbena or Blue Vervain, is a deciduous biennial or perennial herb native to moist meadows, stream banks, and open woodlands across Eastern North America, extending to the Pacific Northwest and Western Canada. It typically grows to a height of 2 to 6 feet (0.6 to 1.8 meters) with a spread of 1 to 3 feet (0.3 to 0.9 meters). The plant features opposite, simple leaves with double-serrate margins, borne on stiffly erect, branching square stems. From mid to late summer, it produces small, tubular, purple flowers arranged in slender, elongated spikes, which are highly attractive to butterflies and other pollinators.

Swamp Verbena is valued for its wildlife benefits, serving as a larval host for the common buckeye butterfly and providing nectar for bees and other insects. Its tall, striking flower spikes make it a popular choice for native plant gardens, rain gardens, and as a naturalizing element in informal borders. It is hardy, drought-resistant once established, and can tolerate a range of soil conditions, though it prefers moist, rich soils. Full sun to part shade is ideal for optimal growth and flowering. While generally low-maintenance, it can self-seed prolifically, potentially becoming weedy in favorable conditions.CC BY-SA 4.0

Plant Description

Plant Type: Herb
Height: 2-6 feet
Width: 1-2.5 feet
Growth Rate: Moderate
Flower Color: Purple
Flowering Season: Summer, Fall
Leaf Retention: Deciduous

Growth Requirements

Sun: Full Sun
Water: Medium, High
Drainage: Slow, Medium, Fast

Common Uses

Bank Stabilization, Bee Garden, Bird Garden, Border Plant, Butterfly Garden, Deer Resistant, Drought Tolerant, Edible*Disclaimer: Easyscape's listed plant edibility is for informational use. Always verify the safety and proper identification of any plant before consumption., Erosion Control, Hummingbird Garden, Low Maintenance, Rabbit Resistant, Salt Tolerant, Showy Flowers, Street Planting, Water Garden

Natural Habitat

Moist meadows, stream banks, and open woodlands across Eastern North America, extending to the Pacific Northwest and Western Canada

Other Names

Common Names: American Vervain, Wild Hyssop, American Vervain, Blue Vervain, Simpler’s-Joy, Lanzen-Eisenkraut, Blåverbena, Blue Verbena, Verbena

Scientific Names: , Verbena hastata, Verbena hastata var. hastata, Verbena paniculata, Verbena hastata var. scabra, Verbena pinnatifida, Verbena hastata f. caerulea, Verbena hastata f. rosea, Verbena hastata f. albiflora, Verbena hastata f. hastata

GBIF Accepted Name: Verbena hastata L.