Verbenaceae: Vervain Family
Purpletop Vervain – Verbena bonariensis
Blooms:
June–Oct
Plant Height:
40–150 cm
Flower Size:
Small cluster
Origin:
South AMerica
Habitat:
Disturbed places
Notes:
Widely cultivated, and sometimes escaping, this plant has one or more erect stems. Each has one or more compact heads of many, small, intense dark pink or purple flowers, with reddish throats. The leaves are clasping, 7–15 cm long, elliptic to lanceolate, and coarsely serrated.
Western Vervain – Verbena lasiostachys var. lasiostachys
Blooms:
May–Sept
Plant Height:
35–80 cm
Flower Size:
Large cluster
Origin:
Native
Habitat:
Open dry to wet places
Notes:
This is the most common of the vervains, producing multiple decumbent to erect spikes of small, pale purple flowers. The spikes can be 7–25 cm long in fruit. Leaves are gray-green, toothed, oval, generally soft, and slightly hairy. They are opposite on the hairy square stems. Photos #3-4 by CJH.
