What is vervain? Vervain is a robust, drought-tolerant herb that grows wild throughout much of North America. Vervain herb plants are valued for their many beneficial qualities and have been used medicinally for thousands of years. In fact, some people believe vervain herb plants carry supernatural qualities, while others consider it a holy plant. Read on to learn about growing vervain herbs in your own garden.
Vervain Herbal Information
Vervain belongs to the genus Verbena – the friendly little annual found in many flowerbeds. While garden verbena is a sub-tropical plant, Vervain is native to southern Europe and most likely found its way to the New World with early settlers. Vervain is a spreading plant that displays stiff, erect stems and reaches mature heights of 12 to 36 inches (31-91 cm.). Narrow spikes of tiny, blue flowers appear from early summer until autumn. Vervain, which grows in USDA plant hardiness zones 4 through 8, doesn’t tolerate extreme cold or heat.
What are Vervain Herb Benefits?
Vervain leaves or roots are often brewed into tea or used as a poultice to treat a number of maladies, including the following:
- Gum problems
- Menstrual cramps and other “female” problems
- Depression, anxiety, and mood swings
- Insomnia
- Respiratory problems, including colds, bronchitis, and sore throats
- Elimination of toxins
- Snake bites
- Headaches
- Kidney disorders
- Difficulties with lactation
- Wounds and inflammation
- Digestive disorders
Growing Vervain Herbs
Vervain herb plants grow well in full sun, but the plant tolerates partial shade. Well drained soil is a necessity. The best way to get started growing Vervain herbs is to plant seeds directly in the garden in late summer or early fall. You can also start seeds in spring following a two week stratification period. Water regularly until the seedlings are established, which generally takes about a month. Thereafter, Vervain is relatively drought-tolerant but benefits from occasional irrigation during hot, dry periods. You can also find Vervain plants ready for planting in spring. Look for the plant at garden centers that specialize in herbs. Alternatively, start Vervain by taking cuttings from established plants.
Common Vervain Varieties
- Stiff vervain (V. rigida)
- Brazilian vervain (V. brasiliensia)
- Blue vervain (V. hastata)
- Common vervain (V. officinalis)
- Ross vervain (V. canadensis)
- Texas vervain (V. halei)
- Jamaica vervain (V. jamaicensis)
- Carolina vervain (V. carnea)
Disclaimer: The content of this article is for educational and gardening purposes only. Before using ANY herb or plant for medicinal purposes, please consult a physician or a medical herbalist for advice.
-
Caring For Your Curly Spider Plant: All You Need To Know To Grow A Cute Curly-Leaved SpiderSpider plants may not seem all that daring or unusual, but there is one variety that definitely comes with a twist! Here’s how to cultivate the cute and curly spider plant
-
Sow These 5 Flower Seeds Before Winter Ends For Gorgeous Spring BloomsGet a headstart on a vibrant spring garden with these fast-growing flowers. Sow them in the cold winter months to ensure an abundance of early-season color.
-
Trailing Verbena Care: Tips For Growing Trailing VerbenasGrowing trailing verbena takes a bit of care but is a lovely bedding plant that loves moderate weather.
-
Rose Verbena Care: How To Grow A Rose Verbena PlantRose verbena (Glandularia canadensis) is a hardy plant that with very little effort on your part, produces aromatic, rosy pink or purple blooms from late spring to late summer. Interested in growing rose verbena in your garden this year? Click here to learn how.
-
Groundcover Verbena Varieties – Can You Use Verbena For GroundcoverDelicate and pretty, verbena plants make a great groundcover, especially if you need to fill an empty space quickly.
-
Growing Verbena Plants – Getting To Know Verbena Plant VarietiesVerbena is a popular plant for flower beds, but there are so many different types of verbena, all with varying properties and appearances. To make this great plant a part of your garden, learn more about the different kinds of verbena in this article.
-
Verbena Plant Information: Are Verbena And Lemon Verbena The Same ThingYou may have used lemon verbena in the kitchen and seen a plant labeled 'verbena' in a garden center. You may have encountered the essential oil known as 'lemon verbena' or 'verbena oil.' So are verbena and lemon verbena the same? Find out here.
-
Verbena Seed Germination: How To Grow Verbena From SeedVerbena seed germination times depend upon the variety, so don't get discouraged. However, knowing how to grow verbena from seed will greatly improve the chances of sprouting. This article can help with that.
-
Verbena Seed Harvest: Learn How To Collect Verbena SeedsThere is a trick on how to collect verbena seeds so they are just ripe but have not released from the pods. Knowing the right time for verbena seed harvest will save you some frustration later on and help ensure germination. Learn more in this article.
-
Is Verbena Annual Or Perennial: Perennial And Annual Verbena VarietiesTrailing verbenas are a common sight in annual hanging baskets, yet many gardeners wonder is verbena annual or perennial? It is both actually. Click the following article to learn about annual vs. perennial verbena varieties.
