# Verbena (*Verbena bonariensis*)

Verbena is a lovely flower that grows in clusters and comes in many colors! Its sweet scent brings in butterflies.

- **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low
- **Snaps:** 3
- **Habitat:** Gardens and open fields
- **Also known as:** Purpletop Verbena, Tall Verbena

![Verbena](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771426700/objects/4976.jpg)

## Appearance

The Verbena is a tall, airy plant with slender, branching stems topped by clusters of small, vibrant purple flowers. Its sparse foliage creates a 'see-through' effect, allowing other plants to be visible behind it.

## Taxonomy

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

## Interesting facts

- It can grow taller than you, sometimes reaching over 6 feet!
- Its tall, wispy stems make it look like it's floating!
- Some people call it "Brazilian Verbena" because it's from South America!
- Verbena's purple blooms attract lots of thirsty butterflies.

## Special abilities

- **See-Through Structure:** Verbena has an airy stem structure that helps it grow tall without blocking light for plants around it.
- **Pollinator Party Host:** Verbena's bright purple flowers attract many bees and butterflies, helping it reproduce by spreading pollen.
- **Drought Survivor:** Verbena can handle long periods without much water, which helps it live in dry, sunny places.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 90-180 cm
- **Spread:** 30-90 cm
- **Flower Size:** 0.5-1 cm
- **Bloom Season:** Summer to Fall (July - October in Northern Hemisphere)
- **Edible:** No
- **Toxicity:** Mild
- **Lifecycle:** Perennial
- **Pollination Method:** Insect

## Ecological connections

- **Pollinates:** Honeybee (*Apis mellifera*) — Collects nectar and pollen
- **Pollinates:** [Monarch Butterfly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/monarch-butterfly) (*Danaus plexippus*) — Visits flowers for nectar
- **Eaten by:** Verbena Leafminer (*Liriomyza verbenae*) — Larvae tunnel through leaves

## Traits

- [Ornamental](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/ornamental): Ornamental plants are cultivated primarily for their aesthetic appeal, enhancing landscapes and gardens with their attractive foliage, flowers, or form.
- [Cluster Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/cluster-flower): Cluster flowers are inflorescences where individual flowers are arranged closely together on a common stem.
- [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.
- [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.
- [Pollinator](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator): Describes organisms that transfer pollen, enabling the fertilization and reproduction of plants.

## Collections

- [Flowers](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/flowers)

## Safety

**Danger:** 1/5 · Very low

Explore with care and ask an adult if you’re unsure what to do.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Verbena?

Count the petals where you can, then compare the flower's center, its symmetry, how the blooms are grouped and the leaves below. Color varies between garden varieties and shifts with the light. Flower Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### How tall is Verbena?

90-180 cm

### How wide does Verbena spread?

30-90 cm

### How big are the flowers on Verbena?

0.5-1 cm

### When does Verbena bloom?

Summer to Fall (July - October in Northern Hemisphere)

### Is Verbena edible?

No

### Is Verbena toxic?

Mild

### What is Verbena's lifecycle?

Perennial

## Where to spot

- [Rutgers Gardens](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/rutgers-gardens) — New Jersey, US · Botanical Garden
- [Metro Richmond Zoo](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/metro-richmond-zoo) — Virginia, US · Zoo
- [Parc de l'Amérique-Latine](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/parc-de-lam-rique-latine) — Quebec, CA · Park
- [Garten der Sinne (Merzig)](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/garten-der-sinne-merzig) — Saarland, DE · Park
- [Mount Vernon Square](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/mount-vernon-square) — District of Columbia, US · Park
- [Ebertpark (Ludwigshafen am Rhein)](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/ebertpark-ludwigshafen-am-rhein) — Rheinland-Pfalz, DE · Park

[View all places to see Verbena](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/verbena)

## 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: [Verbena: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/verbena)