Filters:

Common Vervain Verbena officinalis 

 
 
Attracts BeesBees are attracted to this plant
Attracts ButterfliesButterflies are attracted to this plant
Perennial Life CyclePerennial life cycle
Funnel-Shaped FlowersFunnel-shaped flowers
Lilac FlowersLilac flowers
5 Petals5 petals
Jun-Sep Flowering
period
Lobed LeavesLobed leaves
Lobe-Edged LeavesLobe-edged leaves
Square StemSquare stem
Tap RootTap root
90cmMaximum height
 
 
  Main image of Common Vervain
© 2021 Adrian Briggs
 

Common Vervain is a non-native perennial plant of the UK, typically found growing in dry chalky grassland and rocky areas, to a mature height of up to 90cm.

Common Vervain (or Verbena), a plant native to Eurasia, was introduced into the UK before the sixteenth century. It has a long history of use in Indian, Chinese and European herbal medicine to treat a wide range of medical conditions and Vervain herbal teas are used for insomnia.

Botanic classification and naming: Common Vervain is a member of the Verbena (Verbenaceae) family. The genus name 'Verbena' identifies the plant as a Vervain and its species name 'officinalis' means 'herbal medicinal plant'.

Benefits: Attracts bees, butterflies and moths for pollination.

Benefits to wildlife are also indicated with orange icons in the plant profile bar at the top.

 

 
Flower of Common Vervain

© 2021 Adrian Briggs

 

Flowers:
Common Vervain usually flowers between June and September.

Flower colour:

Flower Colour Lilac

Lilac

Flower shape:

Flower Shape  Funnel

Funnel

Petals:

Petal Number =  5

5

Leaf of Common Vervain

© 2021 Adrian Briggs

 

Leaves:

Leaf Shape:

Leaf Shape is Lobed

Lobed

Leaf Margins:

Leaf Margin is lobed

lobed

Stem of Common Vervain

© 2021 Adrian Briggs

 

Stem and Roots:

Stem shape:

Stem Shape is Square

Square

Root type:

Root Type is Tap

Tap