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White Vervain

Verbena urticifolia

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Category
Forb / Wildflower
Sun
Full to Shade
Soil moisture
Medium-Wet to Medium
Bloom time
Jun–Oct
Bloom color
White

About White Vervain

White Vervain is a tall, airy perennial that brings a subtle, misty beauty to woodland edges and shaded meadows. Unlike its brightly colored relatives, this species features tiny white flowers sparsely arranged on long, slender, widely branching spikes. Reaching heights of 3 to 6 feet, it has a delicate, see-through quality that blends beautifully with other native plants. It is native to much of North America and is uniquely tolerant of shade, thriving in full sun to full shade and medium to medium-wet soils. Despite its modest appearance, White Vervain is a hive of activity during its summer bloom period, attracting a wide range of bees, wasps, and flies with its high-quality nectar. Its leaves are also a food source for several moth caterpillars. It is a hardy and adaptable plant that is easy to grow from seed, making it a great choice for naturalizing in areas with variable light conditions or for adding structural height to a shade garden.

Native range

Native to 38 states:

AlabamaArkansasConnecticutD.C.DelawareFloridaGeorgiaIowaIllinoisIndianaKansasKentuckyLouisianaMassachusettsMarylandMaineMichiganMinnesotaMissouriMississippiNorth CarolinaNorth DakotaNebraskaNew HampshireNew JerseyNew YorkOhioOklahomaPennsylvaniaRhode IslandSouth CarolinaSouth DakotaTennesseeTexasVirginiaVermontWisconsinWest Virginia

County range map

BONAP county-level native range map for Verbena urticifolia

Range map courtesy of BONAP (Biota of North America Program).

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