Simcoe County Master Gardeners
Grow Natives!
PLANT PROFILE
COMMON NAME: Blue vervain
BINOMIAL: Verbena hastata
| Family | Verbenaceae |
| Cdn Native Range | BC, SK, MB, ON, QU, NS, NB, PE |
| Natural habitat | wet meadows, stream banks, wet river banks, fields |
| Type | herbaceous perennial, |
| Features | showy purple flower, candelabra-like inflorescences of erect, slender spikes of tiny, tubular, 5-lobed, purple flowers |
| Growth habit | stiff upright habit, clump forming perennial |
| Mature height | 0.6 m–1.8m (2-6’) |
| Mature spread | 0.3m–0.8m (1-2.5’) |
| Life span | n/a |
| Cdn Hardiness Zone | 4–7 |
| Growing conditions | full sun |
| Soil conditions | medium – wet soil |
| Watering needs | will manage in dryish conditions so no extra watering required |
| Fertilizer needs | none |
| Tolerance | tolerates wet soil and occasional flooding so good for rain gardens |
| Maintenance rank | low |
| Maintenance needs | grows easily from seed and spreads well by seed and spreading rhizomes |
| Bloom | purple flowers, July – September |
| Fruit | n/a |
| Pollinator support | bees visit for pollen and nectar; flies, wasps, moths and butterflies feed from this plant |
| Environmental support | attracts hummingbirds |
| Garden Use | naturalized area, rain garden |
| Risks & Cautions | a tall plant so surround it with other plants for support; can get powdery mildew |
References: L. Johnson, S. Colla, A Garden for the Rusty-Patched Bumblebee; Missouri Botanical Garden Plant Finder
Photo Credits:
Blue Vervain – early flowers (credit: Openverse.org)
Blue Vervain – flowers (credit: Missouri Botanical Gardens Plant Finder)
Blue Vervain – clump (credit: Missouri Botanical Gardens Plant Finder)
