Vervain: A Little-Known Native with Big Potential
If you’re looking to add some truly unique native plants to your garden, you might want to consider vervain (Verbena ×bingenensis). This perennial native is one of those hidden gems that many gardeners have never heard of, and there’s a good reason for that – it’s pretty rare in the gardening world!
What Exactly Is Vervain?
Vervain is a native perennial that belongs to the forb family. For those wondering what a forb is (don’t worry, it’s not garden jargon meant to confuse you!), it’s simply a flowering plant that doesn’t have woody stems. Think of it as the middle ground between your typical garden flowers and shrubs – it’s got the charm of a wildflower with the staying power of a perennial.
This particular vervain is what botanists call a hybrid, which means it’s the result of two different verbena species getting together and creating something new. Nature’s pretty clever that way!
Where Does It Call Home?
Here’s where things get interesting – and a bit exclusive. This vervain is native to the lower 48 states, but it’s currently only documented as growing in Washington state. That makes it something of a regional specialty, like a local craft beer or small-town bakery’s secret recipe.
Should You Grow It?
This is where we need to be honest with you. While vervain sounds intriguing, there’s surprisingly little information available about this specific plant. We know it’s a native perennial forb, and we know where it grows, but details about how to actually grow it, what it looks like, and how it behaves in gardens are pretty scarce.
If you’re in Washington state and you’re the adventurous type who likes to experiment with lesser-known natives, this could be an interesting addition to your garden. However, you might want to consider some of its better-documented verbena cousins instead.
The Reality Check
Sometimes in the gardening world, we come across plants that sound fantastic on paper but are difficult to find information about or source as plants or seeds. Vervain falls into this category. While it’s not invasive or problematic (as far as we know), it’s also not readily available in the nursery trade.
If you’re set on adding native verbenas to your garden, you might have better luck with other native verbena species that are more widely grown and documented. These alternatives will give you similar benefits – supporting local ecosystems, attracting pollinators, and adding native beauty to your landscape – with the added bonus of actual growing information and plant availability.
The Bottom Line
Vervain represents one of those fascinating mysteries in the native plant world. It’s out there, it’s native, and it’s probably quite lovely, but it remains largely undocumented in gardening resources. For most gardeners, exploring other native verbena options might be more practical and successful.
However, if you’re a plant detective who loves a good mystery and you happen to live in Washington state, keep your eyes peeled. You might just be the gardener who helps bring this native beauty into the spotlight it deserves!
