Perennial herb

Stem: erect, densely hairy.

Leaves: opposite, less than 2 cm wide, lance-shaped.

Flowers: borne on spikes, to 10 mm across, with bracts shorter than the calyx.

Fruit: four nutlets surrounded by the persistent calyx.

Similar species: Verbena x blanchardii is a hybrid of Verbena hastata and Verbena simplex. The attributes of the hybrid are intermediate of the parents. See links below for further information on the parents.

Flowering: July to August

Habitat and ecology: Rare in dry fields.

Occurence in the Chicago region: native

Etymology: Verbena is the Latin name for vervain.

Author: The Morton Arboretum