Notice: We do not accept seeds that were given before 2025 as they were in fact Blue Vervain (Verbena hastata).
Plant Names
Verbena simplex
Narrow-leaved Vervain
Verveine simple
Synonyms
simple vervain
Plant Characteristics
Couleur de floraison: Blanc
Bloom Period: Jun - Aug
Hauteur max: 2,0 feet
Max Width: 2,0 feet (spreads by rhizome)
Light Condition:
Plus de 6 heures d'ensoleillement par jour
Soil conditions:
Tolère des conditions de sol sec
Lifespan:
Vivace
des plantes qui reviennent année après année
Gardener Experience:
Spreads by rhizome
Facile à germer
Self-seeding
Landscape Uses:
Suitable for rock gardens
Suitable for Right of Way gardens
Suitable for container garden
Suitable for school gardens
Tolerates boulevard garden conditions
Ecological Benefits:
Supports pollinators
Butterfly host
Tolerates:
Tolerates limestone conditions
Tolerates sandy conditions
Tolerates transplantation
Special Features and Considerations:
This plant causes skin rashes
Seed and plant distribution status
No seeds available for this plant.
Nous acceptions les semences de cette plante
Faits intéressants
Narrow-leaved Vervain forms tidy clumps of narrow, grass-like blue-green leaves. In late spring and early summer, it produces small, vivid blue to violet flowers with yellow centres. Despite its grass-like appearance, it is actually a member of the iris family (Iridaceae). It naturally grows in meadows, open woodlands, clearings, moist prairies, and grassy areas. It prefers average to moist, well-drained soil. It is an excellent choice for the front of a native border, meadow, or naturalized lawn. It forms neat clumps and is generally well behaved. Avoid planting it in areas that remain soggy year-round. It can go somewhat dormant during periods of summer heat or drought and return when conditions improve.
Plant Location
Native to Ottawa region: Oui
Distribution according to VASCAN
Ephemeral
Native
Introduced
Excluded
Extirpated
Doubtful
Absent
Thrives in Ecozones
- Bouclier boréal
- Plaines à forêts mixtes
Ecological Benefits
Butterflies Supported by Verbena simplex
-
Crambodes talidiformis
Verbena -
Endothenia hebesana
Verbena Bud
Specialized Bees Supported by Verbena simplex
No bee data available for this plant.
Complementary Plants
- Agalinis tenuifolia
Slender-leaved False Foxglove
Gérardie à feuilles ténues - Astragalus canadensis
Canada Milk-vetch
Astragale du Canada - Bouteloua curtipendula
Side-oats Grama
Grand boutelou - Senna hebecarpa
Wild Senna
Casse à fruits velus - Zizia aurea
Golden Alexanders
Zizia doré
Substitute For Non-Native Plants
- Sorbaria sorbifolia (False spirea)
- Aruncus dioicus (Goat's Beard)
- Lamium (Dead nettle)
- Astilbe (Astilbe)
- 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: August
- 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:
- Secouer le porte-graines dans un sac de papier
- Seed viability test:
- Pas de test requis avant le don
- Packaging measure: 1 rounded 1/8 teaspoon
- Seed storage:
- Sécher à l'air dans un sac en papier ou contenant ouvert, pour quelques jours jusqu'à sec
- Secouer de temps à autre pour prévenir la moisissure
- Cultivar: No, you can donate without knowing the source as there are only straight species
- Harvesting notes: Please note that in 2025, we partly distributed Blue Vervain (Verbena hastata) instead of Narrow-Leaved Vervain (Verbena simplex). Please check your plants before donating. Thanks!
- Harvesting video: Watch here
Toxicity Notes
Inadequate information on toxicity found.
Canadensis