This is a native plant, but it is not available in the 2026 Wild Ones plant sale.
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Hoary Vervain
Verbena stricta
PerennialHoary Vervain
Verbena stricta
Tap to flip backGrowing Conditions
Light
Sun – Part Shade
Water
Dry
Soil
Any
Size
2-4'
Bloom
Purple, Jun–Sep
Why Grow It
Drought Tolerant
Thrives with little water once established
Caterpillar Host
Feeds caterpillars of native moths & butterflies
Long Blooming
Flowers for many weeks through the season
Did You Know?
The fuzzy, whitish hairs covering the leaves give the plant its 'hoary' appearance and help it conserve water in dry conditions.
It is a larval host for the Common Buckeye butterfly — the caterpillars feed on the hairy leaves.
The flower spikes bloom a few flowers at a time from bottom to top, creating a slow-motion progression that extends the bloom season for weeks.
Wildlife Value
🦋
Common Buckeye Butterfly
Larval host; caterpillars feed on vervain leaves
🐝
Sweat Bees
Small flowers attract many native bee species
🐦
Swamp Sparrow
Eats tiny seeds from dried flower spikes
Good Companions
🌾 Prairie Dropseed
🌼 Orange Coneflower
💙 Smooth Blue Aster
🌸 Royal Catchfly
Planting Guide
- Sow seeds in fall directly onto prepared soil surface.
- Plant in full sun in dry to average well-drained soil.
- Space 12-18 inches apart; very drought tolerant once set.
Heads Up
Spreads by Seed
Self-seeds freely; manage seedlings
Plant Details
Made with ♥ by Lu Li