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Verbena hastata (swamp verbena)
Species Distribution Map: Click to enlarge
Map Color Key © 2013 BONAP

Verbena hastata

swamp verbena

The tall, thin spikes of Blue Vervain grace the wet meadows of the US in July and August. Verbena hastata is a short-lived perennial that readily self sows where happy. A great plant for pond's edge where it seeds in between sedges and rushes and cheerfully holds its own.

SIZE
Verbena hastata LP50 - 50 per flat Availability
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Height

4-6 Feet

Spread

2-3 Feet

Spacing

12-18 Inches

Bloom Color

Violet

USDA Hardiness Zone 3-9

swamp verbena Interesting Notes

The tall, thin spikes of Verbena hastata grace wet meadows with touches of violet-blue throughout the entire US in July and August. Blue vervain is a short-lived perennial that readily self-sows where happy. Growing anywhere from 2-6’ tall and 2-3’ wide, the candelabra form of this native is attractive with the unusual flower spikes lending interest to the garden. It can create colonies by slowly spreading rhizomes and is a great plant for pond's edge where it seeds in between sedges and rushes and cheerfully holds its own. It is an excellent native substitute for invasive exotic species such as European wand loosestrife, purple loosestrife, and purple foxglove.

Verbena hastata prefers moist to average, well-drained, moderately acidic soils in full sun. It can tolerate drier soils, but prefers to stay moist while tolerating periods of inundation. With its native range throughout the most of North America, blue vervain can be found in disturbed habitats, marshes, meadows and fields, shores of rivers or lakes, and wetland margins. The plant spreads slowly by rhizome or by seed. Due to the toxic nature of the foliage, it is rarely browsed by animals and does not succumb to pest and disease.

Swamp verbena is a workhorse in the landscape. Thriving in naturalized areas, Verbena hastata also performs well in borders, meadows, prairies, native plant gardens, and pollinator gardens. Of special importance to native bee populations, it also supports a plethora of wasps, flies, butterflies, skippers, and moths. It is key to the specialist bee, verbena bee, and is a larval host of the buckeye butterfly. Small native songbirds consume the ripened seed. The foliage of the plant is toxic and can interfere with blood pressure medication or hormone therapy if consumed in sufficient quantity.

Verbena hastata Growing and Maintenance Tips

Verbena hastata prefers moist to average, well-drained, moderately acid soils in full sun. Can tolerate drier soils, but prefers to stay moist. Tolerates periods of inundation.

Key Characteristics & Attributes

Full Sun
Full Sun
Moist
Moist
Pollinator-friendly
Pollinator-friendly
Songbird-friendly
Songbird-friendly
Cut Flower
Cut Flower
Summer
Summer

Additional Information

Soil Moisture Needs
Wet
Green Infrastructure
Bioretention/Rain Garden
Meadow/Prairie
Wetland Indicator Status
Falcutative Wetland (FACW)
Plug Type
Landscape Plug™
Attributes
Native to North America
Season of Interest (Flowering)
Late Summer
Fall
Propagation Type
Open pollinated