# hoary vervain (*Verbena stricta*) Hoary vervain is a pretty plant with small purple flowers that bloom in the summer. It loves sunny places and can grow in many types of soil, making it a cheerful sight in gardens and fields. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 8 - **Habitat:** Grasslands ![hoary vervain](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Hoary_Vervain_%28Verbena_stricta%29_on_Mixed_Grass_Prairie_of_Lacreek_NWR_%2813918328442%29.jpg&width=800) Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Hoary_Vervain_%28Verbena_stricta%29_on_Mixed_Grass_Prairie_of_Lacreek_NWR_%2813918328442%29.jpg) ## Appearance The hoary vervain has tall, rigid stems covered in soft, white hairs, giving it a 'hoary' or fuzzy appearance. Its dense spikes are packed with tiny, five-petaled, purplish-blue flowers, creating a striking vertical display in open fields. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Lamiales - **Family:** Verbenaceae - **Genus:** Verbena ## Interesting facts - Ancient Romans considered similar vervain plants sacred, using them in rituals! - Even when dry, this plant's seeds stay on its spikes, providing winter food for birds! - Its bristly stems make it a tough snack, deterring most nibbling animals from munching! - The word 'hoary' describes its fuzzy, grayish-white appearance, like an old, wise plant! ## Special abilities - **Water Whisperer:** Hoary vervain has a deep taproot that helps it find water far underground, allowing it to survive long dry periods! - **Fuzzy Fortress:** Its stems are covered in tiny, stiff hairs that make them less appealing to grazing animals, protecting the plant from being eaten. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 60-150 cm - **Spread:** 30-60 cm - **Flower Size:** 0.3-0.5 cm - **Bloom Season:** Late spring to fall - **Edible:** No - **Toxicity:** None - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** Honey bee (*Apis mellifera*) — Gathers nectar from its small flowers. - **Pollinates:** Common Eastern Bumblebee (*Bombus impatiens*) — Visits its purple flower spikes for nectar. - **Eats:** Vervain plume moth (*Platyptilia pica*) — Its larvae feed on the plant's leaves and stems. - **Eats:** [American Goldfinch](https://www.snappit.app/explore/american-goldfinch) (*Carduelis tristis*) — Feeds on the plant's tiny, nutrient-rich seeds. ## Traits - [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. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [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. - [Rapid Growing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/rapid-growing): Rapid growing plants exhibit accelerated growth rates, quickly increasing in size and biomass within a short period. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low It's safe to touch, but always wash your hands after playing outside. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify hoary 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 hoary vervain? 60-150 cm ### How wide does hoary vervain spread? 30-60 cm ### How big are the flowers on hoary vervain? 0.3-0.5 cm ### When does hoary vervain bloom? Late spring to fall ### Is hoary vervain edible? No ### Is hoary vervain toxic? None ### What is hoary vervain's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Anderson Japanese Gardens](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/anderson-japanese-gardens) — Illinois, US · Botanical Garden - [Darlington Agency](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/darlington-agency) — Oklahoma, US · Historic District - [Dundee Canal](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/dundee-canal) — New Jersey, US · Historic Site - [Falls Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/falls-park) — South Dakota, US · Park - [D.C. Booth Historic National Fish Hatchery](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/d-c-booth-historic-national-fish-hatchery) — South Dakota, US · Aquarium - [Gitchie Manitou State Preserve](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/gitchie-manitou-state-preserve) — Iowa, US · Nature Reserve [View all places to see hoary vervain](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/hoary-vervain) ## 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*) --- Source: [Hoary Vervain: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/hoary-vervain)