Hoary Vervain

Hoary Vervain

Verbena stricta

Hoary Vervain is a short-lived, native, cool-season perennial plant that grows up to 3½ feet tall. Flowers appear from May to September, but primarily in summer. It occurs in upland prairies, gravel prairies, hill prairies, barrens with stunted shrubby vegetation, limestone glades, overgrazed pastures, abandoned fields, and areas along railroads. Hoary Vervain favors low grassy areas with a history of disturbance, particularly from grazing. Easily grown in average, dry to medium, well-drained soils in full sun. May thrive in dry, sandy soils. It has good drought tolerance. Livestock will not eat Hoary Vervain, so it may be thought of as “weedy” by some who observe it in a pasture setting. In a natural prairie it is not aggressive.