Perennial - Blue Vervain

Blue Vervain

Botanical Name

:

Verbena hastata

Plant Type

:

Herbaceous perennial

Seasons

:

Plant in late fall; blooms in mid-summer to early fall

Sun Level

:

Full sun (at least 6 hours of sunlight daily); can tolerate light shade

Ideal Soil Temperature for Planting

:

68 to 95°F (20 to 35℃)

Soil Type

:

Moist, well-drained soil; adaptable to various soil types

Hardiness Zones

:

3–9 (USDA)

Germination

:

Takes 2–3 weeks for germination to occur

P.H. Level

:

Mildly acidic to slightly alkaline (6.5–7.5)

Water/Irrigation

:

Needs consistent moisture, especially during establishment

Fertilization

:

Opt for liquid or granular fertilizers with balanced NPK ratios, applying them monthly throughout the growing season

Habit

:

Clumping, erect, branching

Propagation

:

Seed, division, or vegetative cuttings

Final Plant Height

:

3–5 ft

Spread

:

1–3 ft

Flowers

:

Small, densely packed, violet-blue to purple flowers arranged on slender spikes

Attracts

:

Bees, butterflies, other pollinators

Uses

:

Wildflower gardens, meadows, borders, naturalized areas

Companions

:

Plants that thrive in similar conditions, such as coneflowers (Echinacea), black-eyed Susans (Rudbeckia), and asters

Pruning

:

Deadhead spent flowers to prolong blooming. Cut back stems in late fall or early spring

Toxicity

:

Generally considered non-toxic

Pests

:

Aphids, spider mites

Diseases

:

Powdery mildew, leaf spot

Fun Fact

:

The hastata part of the name refers to the spear-shaped leaves

Confused With

:

Other Verbena species, especially other blue or purple-flowered varieties

Additional Info

:

Provides nectar for pollinators and supports native ecosystems

Botanical Name

:

Verbena hastata

Plant Type

:

Herbaceous perennial

Seasons

:

Plant in late fall; blooms in mid-summer to early fall

Sun Level

:

Full sun (at least 6 hours of sunlight daily); can tolerate light shade

Ideal Soil Temperature for Planting

:

68 to 95°F (20 to 35℃)

Soil Type

:

Moist, well-drained soil; adaptable to various soil types

Hardiness Zones

:

3–9 (USDA)

Germination

:

Takes 2–3 weeks for germination to occur

P.H. Level

:

Mildly acidic to slightly alkaline (6.5–7.5)

Water/Irrigation

:

Needs consistent moisture, especially during establishment

Fertilization

:

Opt for liquid or granular fertilizers with balanced NPK ratios, applying them monthly throughout the growing season

Habit

:

Clumping, erect, branching

Propagation

:

Seed, division, or vegetative cuttings

Final Plant Height

:

3–5 ft

Spread

:

1–3 ft

Flowers

:

Small, densely packed, violet-blue to purple flowers arranged on slender spikes

Attracts

:

Bees, butterflies, other pollinators

Uses

:

Wildflower gardens, meadows, borders, naturalized areas

Companions

:

Plants that thrive in similar conditions, such as coneflowers (Echinacea), black-eyed Susans (Rudbeckia), and asters

Pruning

:

Deadhead spent flowers to prolong blooming. Cut back stems in late fall or early spring

Toxicity

:

Generally considered non-toxic

Pests

:

Aphids, spider mites

Diseases

:

Powdery mildew, leaf spot

Fun Fact

:

The hastata part of the name refers to the spear-shaped leaves

Confused With

:

Other Verbena species, especially other blue or purple-flowered varieties

Additional Info

:

Provides nectar for pollinators and supports native ecosystems

Written by Nondiah Khalayi – https://www.linkedin.com/in/nondiah-khalayi/