Hoary Vervain (Verbena stricta)

Related to the better known blue vervain, but with showier flowers and a preference for dryer soils. Short lived, but maintains itself by reseeding. Drought tolerant. Adaptable to soil type, but may be outcompeted in fertile soils. Rarely hybridizes with other vervains.

Light: Full Sun

Soil Moisture: Mesic, Dry Mesic

Soil Type: Adaptable

Height: 1.5’-4’

Bloom Color: Purple

Bloom Time: May-Sep

Root Type: Taproot

Notable Wildlife Interactions: Flowers attract bees, wasps, flies, butterflies, and skippers. Hosts the common buckeye butterfly, moths such as the five-lined sallow and verbena, some grasshoppers, and smaller insects. Seeds are occasionally eaten by many songbirds such as cardinals, juncos, and sparrows. Rarely browsed by mammals.