Blue Vervain: The Wild Herb with a Rich Folklore History
In summer, wet meadows, streamsides and ditches across North America are marked by tall, branching spikes of violet-blue flowers. This is blue vervain, Verbena hastata, a wild herb that is also a magnet for pollinators.
What does it look like?
Blue vervain is a tall, slender, upright perennial, up to about 1.5 metres high, with a four-angled stem covered in rough hairs. Its tubular, five-lobed flowers grow in many spikes at the stem tips, usually deep purple or violet, rarely white. The opposite leaves are lance-shaped to egg-shaped, often coarsely toothed and sometimes lobed at the base. The Latin name hastata means "spear-shaped". On each spike the flowers open from the base upward, so the lowest ones open first. It blooms from June into October, depending on the region.
On each spike the flowers open from the bottom upward.
Where it grows
Blue vervain likes low, wet places: streamsides, wet prairies, lake edges and pastures, but also roadsides and waste ground. It is native to every US state except Alaska and Hawaii, and to several Canadian provinces from British Columbia to Nova Scotia. Butterflies and many other nectar-feeding insects visit its flowers, and juncos and some sparrows eat its seeds.
Blue vervain vs. common vervain
The name "vervain" covers more than one plant.
- Blue vervain (Verbena hastata): North American, tall, with dense deep purple spikes.
- Common vervain (Verbena officinalis): a perennial native to Europe, up to about 70 cm, with delicate spikes of two-lipped mauve flowers. It has also been naturalised in North America. Names include simpler's joy, holy herb and wild hyssop.
- Lemon verbena (Aloysia citrodora): a lemon-scented shrub native to South America, used for herbal teas and cooking. It belongs to the same family (Verbenaceae) as the vervains but is a different genus. Spanish and Portuguese traders brought it to Europe in the 17th century.
Always check the botanical name on a product to know which plant you have.
Folklore of the vervains
The folklore belongs mostly to common vervain. The Latin word verbena referred to sacrificial herbs considered very powerful, as described by Pliny the Elder. In ancient Egypt the plant was called "tears of Isis", later "Juno's tears". Some early medieval accounts claimed it was used to staunch the wounds of Jesus after the crucifixion, which gave rise to names such as "holy herb". In Central and Eastern Europe it is often linked to iron, as in the German name Eisenkraut, "ironherb".
Growing it
Blue vervain is easy to grow in sun and damp soil, and it rewards a garden with months of colour and a steady stream of insects.
How to use
- Amount: 1 teaspoon
- Water: 250 ml boiling water
- Steep: 10 minutes
Pour freshly boiled water over the herb, cover, steep and strain. Expect a bitter, astringent cup; it is often blended with milder herbs.
Did you know?
The Latin name hastata means spear-shaped. Blue vervain, common vervain and lemon verbena are three different plants.
Sources
- Missouri Department of Conservation: Blue Vervain
- Wikipedia: Verbena hastata
- Wikipedia: Verbena officinalis
- Wikipedia: Aloysia citrodora (lemon verbena)
The information in this article is provided for educational and informational purposes only. It has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease or condition. Herbal products are not a substitute for professional medical advice. If you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication or have a medical condition, please consult a qualified healthcare professional before using any herbal product.