Perennial Plant and Close-Up of Flowers

Height: 1 1/2-5 feet

Spread: 1-2 1/2 feet

Bloom color: Blue to purple

Characteristics

Graceful, erect, clump-forming perennial

Stout, square, hairy, green or red stems

Long, narrow, toothed green leaves

Branched, candelabra-like spikes of blue tubular flowers June to October

Flowers on spike bloom from bottom to topFlowers on spike bloom from bottom to top

Forms colonies by spreading rhizomes and self-seeding

Attributes

Attracts butterflies, bees, birds, and small mammals

Medicinal uses

Moisture-loving, adaptable wetland species withstands flooding and moderate drought

No serious insects or disease problems

Growing and Maintenance Tips Excellent Replacement for

Soil requirements: Rich Lythrum salicaria - Purple Loosestrife

Light requirements: Full sun to part-shade

Water requirements: Medium to wet Where To See It Growing

Used in borders, meadows, prairies, native plant gardens, and rain gardens

See “A List of Perennials and Where to See Them” in the Tried and True Plants section of the Resources menu.

Hardiness: USDA Zones 3-8

See “A List of Perennials and Where to See Them” in the Tried and True Plants section of the Resources menu.

Top image: Missouri Botanical Garden; Bottom image: Ladybird Johnson Wildflower Center

Tried and TrueNative Plant Selections

for the Mid-Atlantic

Verbena hastataSimpler’s Joy / Blue Vervain

Found naturally in meadows, swamps, floodplains, and roadsides, Verbena hastata blooms throughout the summer and into autumn, longer than most other perennials. Historically, it was thought to be a cure for many ailments, and it is still used for medicinal purposes today.

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