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Verbena stricta is often confused with:
Verbena hastata Close up of flower
Native alternative(s) for Verbena stricta:
Verbena hastata Close up of flower
Plants that fill a similar niche:
Symphyotrichum oolentangiense Flowers
Verbena bonariensis Form
Viola pedata Viola pedata

Verbena stricta

Phonetic Spelling
ver-BEE-nuh STRIK-tah
Description

Hoary Vervain is a North American native wildflower in the verbena family and is sparsely found on the coast of NC but is abundant in the central part of the USA. It is found in prairies, thickets, fields and is drought tolerant, preferring medium to dry sandy, rocky or clay soils with good drainage. 

Hoary Vervain is a clump-forming plant that naturalizes by self-seeding so deadhead to control spread if desired. When started from seed, it blooms in the second year, attracting butterflies and bees to its spikes of blue-purple (rarely pink) flowers. The leaves, stems and flowers have hairs giving it its common names.

Plant in full sun in well-drained soils and don't overwater. Use in a dry sunny location, in a rock garden or naturalized settings as prairies or meadows.

 

See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#vigorous#full sun tolerant#drought tolerant#purple flowers#native garden#rock garden#pollinator plant#naturalized area#bird friendly#dry soils tolerant#butterfly friendly#nectar plant midsummer#bee friendly#perennial#meadow#woodland
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#vigorous#full sun tolerant#drought tolerant#purple flowers#native garden#rock garden#pollinator plant#naturalized area#bird friendly#dry soils tolerant#butterfly friendly#nectar plant midsummer#bee friendly#perennial#meadow#woodland
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Verbena
    Species:
    stricta
    Family:
    Verbenaceae
    Life Cycle:
    Perennial
    Recommended Propagation Strategy:
    Seed
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    North America
    Distribution:
    AL , AR , AZ , CO , CT , DE , GA , IA , ID , IL , IN , KS , KY , MA , MI , MN , MO , MS , MT , NC , ND , NE , NJ , NM , NV , NY , OH , OK , PA , SD , TN , TX , UT , VT , WA , WI , WV , WY Canada: ON
    Wildlife Value:
    Host plant for common buckeye butterfly and others. Various pollinators are attracted to the plant. Birds and small mammals will eat the seeds.
    Play Value:
    Attracts Pollinators
    Easy to Grow
    Wildlife Food Source
    Wildlife Larval Host
    Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
    drought tolerant
    Dimensions:
    Height: 2 ft. 0 in. - 4 ft. 0 in.
    Width: 1 ft. 6 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Herb
    Perennial
    Wildflower
    Habit/Form:
    Erect
    Growth Rate:
    Medium
    Maintenance:
    Low
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
    Soil Texture:
    Clay
    Sand
    Shallow Rocky
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Occasionally Dry
    NC Region:
    Coastal
    Mountains
    Piedmont
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Color:
    Brown/Copper
    Display/Harvest Time:
    Fall
    Fruit Type:
    Nut
    Fruit Length:
    < 1 inch
    Fruit Width:
    < 1 inch
    Fruit Description:
    Four brown nutlets are produced per flower.
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Blue
    Purple/Lavender
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Panicle
    Spike
    Flower Value To Gardener:
    Long Bloom Season
    Showy
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Summer
    Flower Shape:
    Star
    Flower Petals:
    4-5 petals/rays
    Flower Size:
    < 1 inch
    Flower Description:
    Pink or blue-purple flowers that bloom from bottom to top of hairy, narrow, upright spikes up to 8 inches long. Individual flowers are 1/4 inch across and have 5 petals. Only a few are open at a time. Blooms for 6 weeks in mid to late summer.
  • Leaves:
    Leaf Color:
    Gray/Silver
    Green
    Leaf Type:
    Simple
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Opposite
    Leaf Shape:
    Obovate
    Ovate
    Leaf Margin:
    Serrate
    Hairs Present:
    Yes
    Leaf Length:
    3-6 inches
    Leaf Width:
    1-3 inches
    Leaf Description:
    4 inches long and 3 inches across oval to obovate coarsely-toothed leaves are usually stalkless and covered with whitish hairs giving it a gray-green appearance. Leaves have pinnate venation and also a reticulated network of smaller veins.
  • Stem:
    Stem Color:
    Green
    Purple/Lavender
    Red/Burgundy
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Cross Section:
    Square
    Stem Surface:
    Hairy (pubescent)
    Stem Description:
    Green to reddish stems have long white hairs
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Coastal
    Meadow
    Naturalized Area
    Woodland
    Landscape Theme:
    Butterfly Garden
    Drought Tolerant Garden
    Pollinator Garden
    Rock Garden
    Design Feature:
    Border
    Small groups
    Attracts:
    Butterflies
    Pollinators
    Songbirds
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Drought
    Problems:
    Weedy