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Flaigg, Norman G.

Verbena xutha

Verbena xutha Lehm.

Gulf Vervain

Verbenaceae (Verbena Family)

Synonym(s):

USDA Symbol: VEXU

USDA Native Status: L48 (N)

This species is a member of the verbena family (family Verbenaceae), which includes about 75 genera and 3,000 species of herbs, shrubs, and trees, mostly of tropical and warm temperate regions. Among them, teak is a highly prized furniture wood, and Vervain, Lantana, Lippia or Frog Fruit, and Chase Tree or Vitex are grown as ornamentals.

From the Image Gallery

4 photo(s) available in the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Herb
Fruit Type: Schizocarp
Size Notes: Up to about 6 feet tall.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: White , Blue , Purple
Bloom Time: Mar , Apr , May , Jun , Jul , Aug , Sep , Oct
Bloom Notes: Blue to pale purple, usually with a white throat.

Distribution

USA: AL , AR , AZ , LA , MS , OK , TX
Native Habitat: Dry mostly sandy soil of beaches, fields, roadsides and blackland prairies from Bowie and Navarro to Jefferson and Cameron counties west to the Trans-Pecos; AL to AZ.

Growing Conditions

Water Use: Low
Light Requirement: Sun , Part Shade
Soil Moisture: Dry , Moist
Cold Tolerant: yes
Heat Tolerant: yes
Conditions Comments: Flowers displayed in tall slender spikes arising from an evergreen basal rosette. Easily grown from seed in well drained soil in situ or in pots for transplanting. Foliage can get sparse at the base of the stems, so plant something full and shorter, like Zexmenia, Calylophus or prune back once to 1' in late spring. Appreciates some summer water.

Benefit

Conspicuous Flowers: yes
Nectar Source: yes

Propagation

Propagation Material: Seeds

From the National Organizations Directory

According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is on display at the following locations:

Jacob's Well Natural Area - Wimberley, TX

Wildflower Center Seed Bank

LBJWC-1213 Collected 2008-10-19 in Montgomery County by Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center

1 collection(s) available in the Wildflower Center Seed Bank

Bibliography

Bibref 293 - Manual of the Vascular Plants of Texas (1979) Correll, D. S. & M. C. Johnston

Search More Titles in Bibliography

Web Reference

Webref 23 - Southwest Environmental Information Network (2009) SEINet - Arizona Chapter

Additional resources

USDA: Find Verbena xutha in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Verbena xutha in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Verbena xutha

Metadata

Record Modified: 2023-03-01
Research By: DEW, JSC, ADA, GAP

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