Verbena simplex Narrow-Leaved Vervain

Ohio Native Plant Natural Range

To view the natural range of Verbena simples visit the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service website.
Narrow-Leaved Vervain leaves are thin, the flowers are white and the size of a child's thumb.
Narrow-Leaved Vervain, delicate white flowers ready to blossom.
A close up of Verbena stricta pale blue flowers in full bloom, there are other flowers in the background but they are not in focus

Cultivation Information Verbena simplex


Height - 1 to 2ftFlower Color - white pale purpleBlooms - June - SeptemberSoil - Dry sandy sites Sun - Full to part sunDrought - Handles drought well
Hardy Zone - 4 to 8
Family - Verbenaceae
Seed Provenance Narrow-Leaved Vervain
Nodding Onion Gardens - 2021 to present - Native-Beeginnings 2020
Leaves on simplex are long and slender. There are three small buds that are beginning to form.
Verbena simplex

Wildlife Significance Narrow-Leaved Vervain


Nectar - Silver Spotted Skippers and small small butterflies
Pollen Source - Small Carpenter bees, cuckoo bees, leaf-cutting bees, green metallic bees Seed- For Lark Bunting and sparrow
Host Plant - Buckeye Butterfly caterpillar
Specialist Insects - Verbena Moth, Verbena Aphid
For detailed information on Narrow-Leaved Vervain visit the Illinois Wildflower website
Propagation Notes Narrow-Leaved Vervain
Seven young Verbena simplex sedlings
Verbena simplex - 6 weeks old
Storage - Moist Cold - Three months - November 17, 2021 - February 17, 2020. I suspects 60 days would have sufficed.
Supplies needed - Small Zip lock plastic bag with a few tablespoons of moistened vermiculite Germination - Was slow, around 10 days, seedling were tiny for several weeks. After 6 weeks they are almost ready to transplant
Light Source - Florescent, one warm one cool, although not the most ecological they provide both light and heat. We keep the daytime temperature of our house at 64 ºF, a tad below ideal.
Why start seedlings indoors? Provides a controlled environment, making identification easier for those plants I am not familiar with.