# Common vervain (*Verbena officinalis*)

Common vervain is a pretty plant with small purple flowers. It grows in sunny places and can be found in gardens and fields. People have used it for many years in teas and medicines.

- **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low
- **Habitat:** Grasslands

![Common vervain](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Eisenkraut%252C_Passau.JPG&width=800)

Photo: Konrad Lackerbeck, CC BY-SA 2.5 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Eisenkraut%252C_Passau.JPG)

## Appearance

The Common vervain has slender, square stems topped with long, narrow spikes of tiny, delicate purple or lilac flowers. Its deeply cut, rough green leaves give it a distinctive, somewhat wispy appearance, unlike many showier garden plants.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Plantae
- **Phylum:** Tracheophyta
- **Class:** Magnoliopsida
- **Order:** Lamiales
- **Family:** Verbenaceae
- **Genus:** Verbena

## Interesting facts

- Ancient Romans believed vervain could purify homes and repel evil spirits!
- Despite its small flowers, one plant can produce thousands of tiny seeds!
- Its scientific name, Verbena, means "sacred bough" in Latin!
- Some call it "Tears of Isis" or "Holy Herb" for its old mystical uses!

## Special abilities

- **Drought Master:** Common vervain can thrive in dry, poor soils thanks to its deep root system, helping it survive harsh conditions.
- **Pollinator Magnet:** Common vervain has numerous small flowers that bloom continuously, attracting many busy bees and butterflies.
- **Seed Spreader:** Common vervain produces thousands of tiny seeds easily carried by wind and water, helping it spread to new places.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 30-100 cm
- **Spread:** 20-50 cm
- **Flower Size:** 0.3-0.5 cm
- **Bloom Season:** Summer-early autumn
- **Edible:** Yes
- **Toxicity:** None
- **Lifecycle:** Perennial
- **Pollination Method:** Insect

## Ecological connections

- **Pollinates:** European honey bee (*Apis mellifera*) — Gathers nectar and pollen.
- **Pollinates:** Buff-tailed bumblebee (*Bombus terrestris*) — Collects nectar and pollen.
- **Pollinates:** Painted Lady butterfly (*Vanessa cardui*) — Feeds on flower nectar.
- **Eats:** Vervain Tortrix Moth (*Cochylimorpha straminea*) — Larvae feed on leaves.

## Traits

- [Herbaceous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbaceous): Herbaceous plants are non-woody plants with soft stems that typically die back to the ground at the end of the growing season.
- [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle.
- [Summer Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/summer-blooming): Summer blooming plants produce their flowers during the summer season, often providing vibrant color when many other plants have finished.
- [Fragrant Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fragrant-flower): Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense.
- [Medicinal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/medicinal): Medicinal plants possess chemical compounds that can be used for therapeutic purposes to treat illnesses or maintain health.
- [Edible](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/edible): Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption.
- [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals.
- [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms.

## Collections

- [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants)

## Safety

**Danger:** 1/5 · Very low

Always ask an adult before touching or picking plants.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Common vervain?

Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### How tall is Common vervain?

30-100 cm

### How wide does Common vervain spread?

20-50 cm

### How big are the flowers on Common vervain?

0.3-0.5 cm

### When does Common vervain bloom?

Summer-early autumn

### Is Common vervain edible?

Yes

### Is Common vervain toxic?

None

### What is Common vervain's lifecycle?

Perennial

## More Plants

- [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*)
- [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*)
- [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*)
- [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*)

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Source: [Common vervain: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-vervain)