Verbena hastata

RHS Plant Profile
American blue vervain

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American blue vervain RHS
American blue vervain RHS

Other common names

American simpler's joy, blue vervain, ironweed, wild hyssop

Synonyms

Verbena pinnatifida

Herbaceous Perennial
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an upright, clump-forming perennial with narrow leaves up to 15cm long. Spikes of small, violet-blue to pinkish-purple flowers are carried on tall, branched, candelabra-like stems from early summer to early autumn

Position

Full sun

Soil Types

Chalk, Loam, Sand

Max Height

1-1.5 metres

Max Spread

0.5-1 metres

Size

Time to Maturity
1–2 years
Max Spread
0.5-1 metres
Max Height
1-1.5 metres

Growing Conditions

Chalk Loam Sand
Moisture
Moist but well–drained or Well–drained
pH
Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun
Aspect
West–facing or South–facing or East–facing
Exposure
Exposed or Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

  • H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
  • H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
  • H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
  • H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
  • H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
  • H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
  • H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
  • H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
  • H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)
H5
Drought Resistance
Yes

Colour & Scent

Season Stem Flower Foliage Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family
Verbenaceae
Native to GB/Ireland
No
Foliage
Deciduous
Habit
Bushy
Genus
Verbena can be annuals, perennials or sub-shrubs, with toothed or pinnately lobed leaves and small, usually 5-petalled, salver-shaped flowers, typically held in spikes or panicles, in summer or autumn
Name Status
Correct
Plant Range
N America

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow in a moist but well-drained moderately fertile soil in full sun

Propagation

Propagate by seed, division or softwood cuttings

Suggested planting locations and garden types

  • City and courtyard gardens
  • Coastal
  • Cottage and informal garden
  • Prairie planting
  • Architectural
  • Gravel garden
  • Low Maintenance
  • Banks and slopes
  • Flower borders and beds
  • Wall side borders

Pruning

Cut down after flowering

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

Generally disease-free