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Verbena urticifolia - L.

Common Name White Vervain
Family Verbenaceae
USDA hardiness 4-8
Known Hazards None known
Habitats Woodlands, pastures, along streams, roadsides and waste areas[228].
Range Eastern N. America - Quebec and Ontario to North Dakota, south to Florida and Texas.
Edibility Rating    (0 of 5)
Other Uses    (0 of 5)
Weed Potential Yes
Medicinal Rating    (1 of 5)
Care (info)
Fully Hardy Moist Soil Full sun
Verbena urticifolia White Vervain


commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:SB_Johnny
Verbena urticifolia White Vervain
Thomas G. Barnes @ USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database / Barnes, T.G., and S.W. Francis. 2004. Wildflowers and ferns of Kentucky. University Press of Kentucky.

 

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Summary


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of flower
Verbena urticifolia is a PERENNIAL growing to 0.3 m (1ft).
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 5. 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.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Plant Habitats

Woodland Garden Sunny Edge; Cultivated Beds;

Edible Uses

None known

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
Miscellany  Restorative  Women's complaints

A decoction of the root is given to babies to break out the hives[207]. The sweetened root decoction is drunk as an aid for flu[207]. An infusion of the root has been used in the treatment of profuse menstruation[257]. The root has been eaten to revive a patient and restore them to health[257].

References   More on Medicinal Uses

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Other Uses

Miscellany

None known

Special Uses

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Succeeds in any moderately fertile well-drained but moisture retentive soil in a sunny position[1, 200]. Hardy to about -15°c[200].

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

Type a value in the Celsius field to convert the value to Fahrenheit:

Fahrenheit:

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The PFAF Bookshop

Plants For A Future have a number of books available in paperback and digital form. Book titles include Edible Plants, Edible Perennials, Edible Trees,Edible Shrubs, Woodland Gardening, and Temperate Food Forest Plants. Our new book is Food Forest Plants For Hotter Conditions (Tropical and Sub-Tropical).

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Plant Propagation

Seed - sow early spring in a greenhouse or cold frame[1]. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and plant them out in the summer. Division in spring. Larger divisions can be planted out direct into their permanent positions. We have found that it is best to pot up smaller divisions and grow them on in light shade in a greenhouse or cold frame until they are growing away well. Plant them out in the summer or the following spring. Basal cuttings in early summer. Harvest the shoots with plenty of underground stem when they are about 8 - 10cm above the ground. Pot them up into individual pots and keep them in light shade in a cold frame or greenhouse until they are rooting well. Plant them out in the summer.

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Native Range

NORTHERN AMERICA: Canada (Québec (south), Ontario (south), New Brunswick, Saskatchewan (southeast)), United States (Indiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, Connecticut, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, South Dakota, Oklahoma, Wisconsin, Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida (north), Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Mississippi, Tennessee, Texas)

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

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Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

Expert comment

Author

L.

Botanical References

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Links / References

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Readers comment

   Jul 23 2012 12:00AM

This plant is almost impossible to photograph in such a way that its charm is apparent. In fact, I have not seen one good photo of it on the net after an intensive search. Even 2 plants next to each other against a dark ground are magical. I currently have 2 blooming (July 23) that are 6' tall. There is a mass of flower spikes about 8" long and the overall effect is of a very delicate sparkler. The leaves suffer from powdery mildew but despite that I am going to use them next year in a wild border and grow them from seed.

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Subject : Verbena urticifolia  
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