Vervain – Verbena X hybriba

Common Name: Vervain, Verbena

Botanical Name: Verbena X hybriba, ver-BEE-na X HI-brid-a

Decorative Life: 2-4 plus weeks depending on environment.

Flower Color: Blue, Red, White, Yellow

Availability: Summer, Year Round

Plugs can be stored for 1 week in the dark (1 week in light) at 45F and subsequently grown into very acceptable plants and/or flowers. Treatment with a growth retardant (paclobutrazol or uniconazol) is recommended to prevent stem lodging (falling over) after transplanting outdoors. These chemicals did not otherwise influence flower and cluster number or size.

• Verbena: ancient Latin name for the common European vervain, V. officinalis.
• Some favorite cultivars and their flower color are ‘Pink Shades’, ‘Blue with Eye’ (blue bicolor), ‘Mauve Shades’ (rose bicolor), ‘Heirloom Blue’, ‘Heirloom Mango’, Babylon Neon Rose’ and ‘Babylon Lilac’.
• Common name Vervain is supposed to be derived from the Celtic words “fer” (to remove) and “faen” (stone), referring to its use in treating bladder stones.
• Will generally do well in light levels at least bright enough to read a newspaper in comfort but more light would be better.
• The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology lists this species as an allergy-safe pollen producing plant.