Image of Verbena hastata
Source: Donna Bos
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Plant Names

image of Flowering plant
Verbena hastata
Blue Vervain
Verveine hastée

Synonyms

American blue vervain
simpler's-joy
swamp vervain
verveine scabre

Plant Characteristics

Bloom Colour: Blue Bloom Period: Jul - Sep
Max Height: 5.0 feet
Max Width: 2.0 feet (spreads by rhizome)
Light Condition:
Full sun More than 6 hours of direct sun a day
Part shade More than 2 or 3 hours but less than 6 hours of direct sun a day
Soil conditions:
Moisture medium Tolerates medium soil condition
Lifespan: Perennial plants that will come back year after year
Gardener Experience:
plant spread by rhizome Spreads by rhizome
plant germinate easy Easy to germinate
plant self seeding Self-seeding
Landscape Uses:
wetland garden Suitable for wetland garden
rain garden Suitable for rain gardens
shoreline_rehab Suitable for shoreline rehabilitation
boulevard garden tolerant Tolerates boulevard garden conditions
Ecological Benefits:
Pollinator garden Supports pollinators
butterfly host Butterfly host
Tolerates:
Limestone Tolerant Tolerates limestone conditions
Transplantation Tolerant Tolerates transplantation
Special Features and Considerations:
causes skin rashes This plant causes skin rashes

Seed and plant distribution status

No seeds available for this plant.
We currently accept seeds for this plant

Plant Location

Native to Ottawa region: Yes

Distribution according to VASCAN

Distribution: Verbena hastata
Ephemeral Native Introduced Excluded Extirpated Doubtful Absent

Thrives in Ecozones

  • Atlantic Maritime
  • Boreal Plains
  • Montane Cordillera
  • Prairies
  • Boreal Shield
  • Mixed Wood Plains

Ecological Benefits

Butterflies Supported by Verbena hastata

Specialized Bees Supported by Verbena hastata

No bee data available for this plant.

Complementary Plants

Substitute For Non-Native Plants

  • Sorbaria sorbifolia (False spirea)
  • Aruncus dioicus (Goat's Beard)
  • Lamium (Dead nettle)
  • Perovskia Atriplicifolia (Russian Sage)
  • Lupinus (Non-Native Lupins)
  • Ajuga reptans (Bugleweed)
  • Buddleia (Butterfly Bush)
  • Delphinium (Delphinium)
  • Salvia (Non-Native Sage)
  • Lavandula (Lavender)
  • Hesperis matronalis (Dame Rocket)
  • Liatris (Blazing Star Cultivar)

Sowing Information

Download Seed Envelope Labels (PDF)
  • Sowing depth: Surface sow
  • Sow by March
  • Stratification duration: 30 days
  • Self-seeding

Harvesting and Seed Sharing

  • Harvest start month: September
  • Harvesting indicator:
    • Pods are brown, seeds are dark, and crisp, and little stem connecting the pod to the main stem is brown (not green)
  • Harvesting:
    • Shake seed head in paper bag
  • Seed viability test:
    • No test needed before donating
  • Packaging measure: 1 rounded 1/32 teaspoon
  • Seed storage:
    • Air dry in paper bag or open container, for a few days until crisp
    • Shake seeds to move them once in a while to prevent molding
  • Cultivar: No, you can donate without knowing the source as there are only straight species
  • Harvesting video: Watch here

Toxicity Notes

Inadequate information on toxicity found.