Hoary Vervain Verbena Stricta 1 Gal

Verbena stricta, commonly called hoary vervain, is a vigorous, clump-forming perennial that gets its common name from the white pubescence on its gray-green leaves and stems. It is native throughout Missouri, typically occurring in prairies, glades, thickets, fields, waste ground and along railroads and roadsides (Steyermark). It grows in a narrow clump to 2-4’ tall and features blue-purple flowers (to 1/2” long) in narrow, upright, pencil-like, terminal panicles. Flowers are densely packed on the panicles, but bloom only a few at a time from bottom to top. Flowers appear from May to September, but primarily in summer and are attractive to hummingbirds, butterflies, and other pollinators. Ovate, coarsely-toothed, usually stalkless leaves (to 4” long) are covered with whitish hairs. Foliage has a gray-green appearance.

Easily grown in average, dry to medium, well-drained soils in full sun. May thrive in dryish, sandy soils. Often will naturalize by self-seeding to form colonies. Remove the spent flowering spikes before seed matures to prevent any unwanted self-seeding. Easily grown from seed. Plants usually bloom in the second year after seeding. Good drought tolerance.