Minnesota Seasons - blue vervain


blue vervain				More photos…
Verbena hastata var. hastata

Taxonomy	Family:	Verbenaceae (verbena)
	Subfamily:	Verbeneae
	Genus:	Verbena
	Section:	Verbena
	Series:	Candelabrae
Parent	blue vervain (Verbena hastata)

Nativity	Native
Status	Common
Habitat	Moist. Prairies, meadows, fields, swamps. Full sun.
Flowering	July to October
Flower Color	Blue
Height	16″ to 60″

Identification	Plant is usually 16″ to 60″ tall, though in favorable conditions it may reach more than 7′ in height. The stem is branched near the top. Leaves are lance egg-shaped, about five times as long as wide, on distinct leaf stalks at least ⅓″ long. The leaves often have 1 or 2 deep lobes near the base. Stems and leaves are slightly hairy with short, soft hairs. Flowers are ⅛″ wide on a spike that is noticeably pointed at the tip.

Similar Species	Blue vervain (Verbena hastata var. scabra) leaves are rarely lobed near the base.

Range			Sources: 7.

Sightings				Myre-Big Island State Park Red Rock Prairie

Comments

Images
Plant

Inflorescence

Leaves

Synonyms

Common Names	American blue vervain blue verbena blue vervain Simpler’s-joy swamp verbena wild hyssop