Hoary Vervain is a rather short-lived perennial with beautiful lavender flower spires in late summer. The plant will not compete well with more aggressive vegetation but will self-seed readily and is very easy to germinate. The seeds are an important food staple for many small mammals and birds that depend on this widely-distributed plant.
An important nectar source for butterflies, Hoary Vervain is a desirable component of butterfly gardens, and the fuzzy, gray-green leaves are larval host food for the Common Buckeye butterfly and others. Very drought resistant, and non-aggressive, Hoary Vervain thrives on dry soils and well-drained loamy soils.
Also called Hoary Verbena, this Vervain has a long bloom time; the blue-purple flower spikes will persist for 4-6 weeks, usually spanning July and August.