Where to grow in my garden?
A lovely addition to a wildlife garden. Can be grown in a border, container, rock garden and will even grow out of walls.
Flowers: June-Oct
Habitat: Grassland, coastal cliffs, verges
Height: up to 80cm
Growth Type: Perennial
Position: Full sun
Soil Preference: Neutral
RHS Perfect for Pollinators
Vervain
Verbena officinalis
Jumbo plug plant (70cc)
Our native* Verbena with small, pale lilac flowers on terminal spikes.
This delicate plant is not to be underestimated, attracting a wide range of pollinating insects.
This powerful herb was one of the Druid’s most sacred herbs and has a rich history in herbal and magical use.
The name Erbena was the classical Roman name for ‘altar-plants’ in general and for this species in particular.
Said to have grown on the site of Christ’s crucifixion and was used to staunch his wounds at the cross.
It was called herba sacra, a holy herb when used in religious ceremonies.
In the 16th century it became an official herb of the apothecaries, used for at least 30 complaints.
Widely cultivated as a medicinal herb in medieval gardens.
Today Vervain is used in herbal and traditional Chinese medicine and is often found in bedtime tea blends for its calming properties.
*Technically Vervain is ‘long naturalised’ being native to Southeast Europe and Asia and was likely introduced here in Neolithic times.
Unlike its popular garden relative Verbena bonariensis which is native to South America.