Verbena hastata - Blue Vervain

Verbena is the Latin term for "sacred herb". Hastata is latin for "resembling a spearhead or arrowhead".

Distinctive square stem, grows to 3 feet. Plant is very hairy normally. Flowers vary from blue-violet to rose and occur in spikes at the top of the plant from late June to September. Spikes can be 5 inches long and bloom from the bottom up. Found in fields, thickets and ditches throughout the Tallgrass region.

The seeds of Blue Vervain were collected by some Native Americans , roasted and ground into a flour or meal. Central California Miwoks used the seed meal as an extensive food source. A tea made from the leaves was used as a remedy for stomach aches by northern plains Indians. The tops of this plant persist through the hard northern winter months and provide a limited amount of food to birds.

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