blue vervain

plant

Also known as: Verbena hastata

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

June 22, 2026

Quick Summary

Blue vervain (Verbena hastata) is a tall weed native to the eastern United States. It is characterized by hastate (arrowhead-shaped) leaves and slender spikes of blue flowers.1

Blue vervain belongs to the genus Verbena, which is part of the family Verbenaceae. While many verbena species are cultivated garden plants, some, like blue vervain, are considered weedy. Blue vervain can grow up to 1.5 meters (5 feet) tall and features blue to purple flowers. The Eurasian species V. officinalis, also known as herb of the cross, was historically recognized for its medicinal properties.2

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

2 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

verbena
The blue vervain (V. hastata) reaches a height of 1.5 metres (5 feet) and produces spikes of blue to purple flowers. The Eurasian species V. officinalis, the herb of the cross, was once considered a medicinal plant.
Read More
The blue vervain (V. hastata) reaches a height of 1.5 metres (5 feet) and produces spikes of blue to purple flowers. The Eurasian species V. officinalis, the herb of the cross, was once considered a medicinal plant.
Read More