European Vervain

(Verbena officinalis)

 

   

 

Line Drawing: Britton, N.L., and A. Brown. 1913. An Illustrated Flora of the Northern United States and Canada, Second Edition.

 

European Vervain (Verbena officinalis L.)

Identification: Flowers small, purple to rose-pink, with a fused corolla and 5 free petal lobes. Flower arranged in one or more very long flowering spikes with the open flowers located in a cluster near the apex of the spike. Stem tall, near smooth. Leaves in opposite pairs, hairy, and with the outer margins heavily incised and lobed. Plant 1 to 4 feet in height.

Distribution: Southeastern and south-central Canada, southward to Florida and Texas.

Habitat: European Vervain is a weed found in disturbed habitats such as empty lots, and fields.

Flowering period: June to October.

Similar Species: The deeply incised and lobed leaf margins will easily separate European Vervain from other species of the genus Verbena.

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