Brazilian Vervain Verbena bonariensis

Tall verbena is a tall upright plant with rounded clusters of small purple flowers, that measure 2 to 3 inches in diameter on long wispy stems. Each flower is about a 0.25-inch purple tube. The leaves are primarily at the base of the plant and form a mounded rosette of green, lance-shaped leaves with serrated margins. The main stem leaves of Tall Verbena have two expanded earlike lobes (auricles) just above the petiole. The similar V. brasiliensis lacks these lobes.

The plant is a tender perennial and is hardy from zones 7 to 11. In cooler climates, it is grown as an annual. It tolerates a variety of soil types, average to dry conditions, and full sun. Native bees nest in the dead, hollow stems, so gardeners are encouraged to cut back dead stems to 12 to 24 inches and allow them to remain standing until they disintegrate on their own. Read more about best practices for stem-nesting bees in this NC Extension publication.

Tall verbena is native to South America but has naturalized in the United States from North Carolina to Florida and west to Texas. It is a weed that spreads by volunteer seedlings. Some sources have labeled it "invasive." Do not allow this species to spread into natural areas and become a problem.

Quick ID Hints:

• perennial up to 2 to 5 feet tall with wispy, wiry, tall stems from
• foliage at the base of the plant with green, lance-shaped leaves with serrated margins
• rounded clusters of purple flowers measuring 2 to 3 inches in diameter
• each bloom is a purple tube measuring 0.25 inches in length

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems:  This plant has no serious insect or disease problems although powdery mildew can occur. Weedy

VIDEO created by Andy Pulte for “Landscape Plant Identification, Taxonomy and Morphology” a plant identification course offered by the Department of Plant Sciences, University of Tennessee.