Verbenas

Verbena

Vervain has an ancient relationship with humans. The European species, Officinalis, has been an important medicinal plant since ancient times. Used by the Egyptians, Druids, Romans and for witchcraft. There is so much folklore surrounding this plant, you will have to dig into it sometime. Small lilac-blue flowers in spikes rising 2’-3’ above a mound of tough, narrow leaves midsummer. Plant holds nicely in the winter. The other species, V. Hastata is the native North American species, and fairly common in damp open meadows. A taller plant that can reach 5’ with similar small blue flowers on a spiky stem. A safe nervine and analgesic.