American Blue Vervain, Swamp verbena

Verbena hastata

Physical Characteristics

Verbena hastata is a PERENNIAL growing to 1.5 m (5ft) by 0.6 m (2ft in). See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 3. It is in flower from July to August. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Bees, flies, Lepidoptera (Moths & Butterflies). The plant is self-fertile. Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers moist soil.

Distribution

N. America - Nova Scotia and New Brunswick to Florida, and from California to British Columbia.

Habitats

Cultivated Beds;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Seed Edible Uses: Tea Seed - cooked[257]. The seed can be roasted and ground into a powder or used whole as a piñole[105, 161, 183, 257]. Pleasantly bitter, some of this bitterness can be removed by leeching the flour[183]. The leaves are used as a tea substitute[161, 183, 257].

Medicinal Uses

Antiperiodic Diaphoretic Emetic Expectorant Tonic Vermifuge Vulnerary The leaves and roots are antiperiodic, diaphoretic, emetic, expectorant, tonic, vermifuge and vulnerary[4, 21, 46, 222]. The roots are more active than the leaves[222]. The plant is used in the treatment of stomach aches, gravel, worms and scrofula[4, 257]. An infusion of the roots, leaves or seeds has been used in the early stages of fevers[257]. A snuff made from the dried flowers has been used to treat nose bleeds[257].

Known Hazards

None known