Blue Vervain

Verbena hastata
 
The blue vervain is a beautiful native perennial with long spear-shaped purple blue flowers. Also, known as Swamp Vervain, Blue Verbena, Swamp Verbena, or Simpler’s Joy. This vervain species prefers moist to wet soil and is commonly found around streams and near wetlands.
 
Nectar-rich flowers attracts pollinators including butterflies, skippers, long and short-tongued bees, bee flies and others, including the occasional hummingbird. An added attraction is that Blue Vervain is the larval host for Common Buckeye butterfly and the Verbena moth. Vervain even has its own specialist bee, the Verbena bee that collects pollen from Verbenas for its young. Verbena seeds are relished by several songbirds including cardinals, sparrows, and juncos.
 
Height - 2ft - 6ft
Light - Partial Sun, Full Sun
Soil Moisture - Moist, Wet
Bloom Colour - Purple Blue
Bloom Time - July, August, September
Invites - Bumblebees, Butterflies, Moths
Host Plant for - Common Buckeye and Verbena Moth
Companion Plant Idea’s - Swamp Milkweed, Great Blue Lobelia, Joe-Pye Weed, Cardinal Flower, Boneset