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Strickland, Sam C.

Verbena canescens

Verbena canescens Kunth

Gray Vervain

Verbenaceae (Verbena Family)

Synonym(s): Verbena canescens var. roemeriana

USDA Symbol: VECA5

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

5 photo(s) available in the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Herb
Fruit Type: Schizocarp
Size Notes: Up to about 18 inches tall.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: Pink , Blue , Purple
Bloom Time: Apr , May , Jun , Jul , Aug , Sep , Oct

Distribution

USA: AL , CA , NM , NV , TX

Growing Conditions

Water Use: Low
Light Requirement: Sun
Soil Moisture: Dry , Moist
Conditions Comments: The common name for this vervain refers to its gray foliage, which is right at home in a short meadow garden or as an accent in a small planting, such as in a pot. Grows well with four-nerve daisy, prairie fleabane, and winecups. Trim the old flower stalks to keep the plant blooming. Needs good drainage.

Benefit

Conspicuous Flowers: yes
Attracts: Butterflies
Nectar Source: yes

From the National Organizations Directory

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

Fredericksburg Nature Center - Fredericksburg, TX
Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center - Austin, TX
Patsy Glenn Refuge, c/o Wimberley Birding Society - Wimberley, TX
Nueces River Authority - Uvalde, TX

Herbarium Specimen(s)

NPSOT 1064 Collected Mar 8, 1996 in Bexar County by Mike Fox

1 specimen(s) available in the Digital Herbarium

Wildflower Center Seed Bank

LBJWC-0105 Collected 2007-06-04 in Travis 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
Webref 15 - The American Southwest (1994) John Crossley

Additional resources

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

Metadata

Record Modified: 2023-05-25
Research By: TWC Staff

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