swamp vervain

Verbena hastata

Description:

Also called blue vervain, this slender, erect, herbaceous perennial plant that is up to 60″ tall. It is found in wetlands and stream corridors across Wisconsin. Swamp vervain is an early colonizer following disturbance. Its small blue flowers appear along a florescence stalk in July and continue blooming into early September. The flowers are replaced by small nutlets (4 nutlets per flower).

Details:

swamp vervain

USDA Symbol:	Common Name:	Scientific Name:
VEHA2	swamp verbena	Verbena hastata

ITIS TSN: 32071

Category: Dicot

Taxonomy

Kingdom: Plantae

Subkingdom:

Super Division: Spermatophyta

Division: Magnoliophyta

Subdivision:

Class: Magnoliopsida

SubClass: Asteridae

Order: Lamiales

Family: Verbenaceae

Counties: Adams, Ashland, Barron, Bayfield, Brown, Buffalo, Burnett, Calumet, Chippewa, Clark, Columbia, Crawford, Dane, Dodge, Door, Douglas, Dunn, Eau Claire, Florence, Fond du Lac, Forest, Grant, Green, Green Lake, Iowa, Iron, Jackson, Jefferson, Juneau, Kenosha, Kewaunee, La Crosse, Lafayette, Langlade, Lincoln, Manitowoc, Marathon, Marinette, Marquette, Menominee, Milwaukee, Monroe, Oconto, Oneida, Outagamie, Ozaukee, Pierce, Polk, Portage, Price, Racine, Richland, Rock, Rusk, Sauk, Sawyer, Shawano, Sheboygan, St. Croix, Taylor, Trempealeau, Vernon, Vilas, Walworth, Washburn, Washington, Waukesha, Waupaca, Waushara, Winnebago, Wood

Natural Community:

Curtis Community:

Coefficient of Conservation: 3

Duration:	Growth Habit:	Native Status:
Biennial, Perennial	Forb/herb	L48(N)CAN(N)

Active Growth Period: Spring, Summer and Fall

After Harvest Regrowth Rate:

Bloat:

Carbon to Nitrogen Ratio:

Coppice Potential: No

Conspicuous Fall Color: No

Fire Resistant: No

Flower Color: Blue

Conspicuous Flower: Yes

Foliage Color: Green

Foliage Light Porosity Summer:

Foliage Porosity Winter:

Foliage Texture: Medium

Fruit/Seed Color: Brown

Fruit/Seed Conspicuous: Yes

Growth Form: Single Stem

Growth Rate: Moderate

Height at Base Age (Max):

Height at Maturity:

Known Alelopath:

Leaf Retention: No

Lifespan:

Low Growing Grass: No

Re-sproutability:

Shape and Orientation: Erect

Toxicity: None

Height (min): 16

Height (max): 60

Root Type: Fibrous

Leaf Type: simple

Leaf Arrangement: opposite

Leaf Shape: lanceolate

Leaf Margin: serrate

Vein Pattern:

Adapted to Coarse Textured Soils:

Adapted to Medium Textured Soils:

Adapted to Fine Textured Soils:

Anaerobic Tolerance:

CaCO3 Tolerance:

Cold Stratification Required:

Drought Tolerance:

Fertility Requirement:

_Fire Tolerance:

Frost Free Days, Minimum:

Hedge Tolerance: None

Moisture Use: Medium, High, Low

pH (Minimum):

pH (Maximum):

Planting Density per Acre, Minimum:

Planting Density per Acre, Maximum:

Precipitation (Minimum):

Precipitation (Maximum):

Root Depth, Minimum (inches):

Salinity Tolerance:

Shade Tolerance:

Temperature, Minimum (°F):

Plant Spacing (min): 18

Plant Spacing (max): 24

Bloom Period:	Commercial Availability:	Fruit/Seed Abundance:

Fruit/Seed Period Begin:	Fruit/Seed Period End:	Fruit/Seed Persistence:

Propogated by Bare Root:	Propogated by Bulbs:	Propogated by Container:
	No	Yes

Propogated by Corms:	Propogated by Cuttings:	Propogated by Seed:
No	No	Yes

Propogated by Sod:	Propogated by Sprigs:	Propogated by Tubers:
No	No	No

Seeds per Pound:	Seed Spread Rate:	Seedling Vigor:
1488000

Small Grain:	Vegetative Spread Rate:	Propagation Treatment:
No		Moist Stratification

Days to Stratify:	Direct Sowing Time:
30	Fall

Benefits: Birds, Butterflies, Hummingbirds, Pollinators, Deer Resistant

Berry/Nut/Seed Product:	Christmas Tree Product:	Fodder Product:
No	No	No

Fuelwood Product:	Lumber Product:	Naval Store Product:
No	No	No

Nursery Stock Product:	Palatable Browse Animal:	Palatable Graze Animal:
Yes	--	--

Palatable Human:	Post Product:	Protein Potential:
No	No	--

Pulpwood Product:	Veneer Product:
No	No

Benefits:	Wildlife Food Value:	Wildlife Cover Value:
Birds, Butterflies, Hummingbirds, Pollinators, Deer Resistant

References:

Illinois Wildflower Database – Verbena hastata
USDA Plants Database – Verbena hastata
Wisflora Database – Verbena hastata

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