Hoary verbena facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Hoary verbena |
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_on_Mixed_Grass_Prairie_of_Lacreek_NWR_(13918328442).jpg) |
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| Hoary vervain on a mixed grass prairie of Lacreek NWR | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Verbena
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| Species: |
stricta
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Verbena stricta, also known as hoary verbena or hoary vervain, is a beautiful purple wildflower. It grows naturally in a large area of the central United States. This plant is known for being very tough and able to grow in many different places.
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Where Hoary Vervain Lives
Hoary vervain is native to many states like Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, South Dakota, North Dakota, Colorado, Wyoming, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Iowa, Indiana, Illinois, and Ohio. It's a very adaptable plant, so you can find it in even more places. Only a few states, mostly on the coasts, don't have this plant growing naturally.
You'll often spot hoary vervain in meadows, open fields, and dry, sandy soils. It also likes to grow in places that have been changed by people, like disturbed areas or roadsides. Because of where it lives, hoary vervain is very good at handling dry weather. It's also a friendly plant that doesn't try to take over other plants' space.
What Hoary Vervain Looks Like
How It Grows
When hoary vervain has good growing conditions, it can reach a height of 2 to 4 feet. A tall spike grows at the very top of the plant. This spike holds many small flowers packed closely together. Each flower is about half an inch wide.
Its Flowers
The flowers of hoary vervain can be different colors. Most of them are a lovely purple or lavender shade. Sometimes, you might even see rare rose pink or white flowers. Each flower has five petals that are joined at their base, forming a short tube. The petals are not all the same size. As the plant gets older, the flower spike on top grows longer. This spike will eventually produce tiny nutlets, which are like small seeds. These seeds are usually about 2 to 3 millimeters long when they are ready.
Its Leaves and Stems
The leaves of the hoary vervain are usually two to three inches long. They grow in pairs, one across from the other, along the plant's main stalk. The edges of the leaves are heavily serrated, which means they have a saw-like edge. The leaves are shaped like an oval or an egg, with a pointed tip. All the leaves are covered in thick, soft hairs.
The stems of this plant are square-shaped and also covered in short, dense hairs. Sometimes, the bottom part of the stem can have a reddish color.
When It Blooms
Hoary vervain starts to bloom in the early summer. It keeps flowering all the way through the late summer. The flowers stay on the plant until its seeds are fully ripe.
Why Hoary Vervain is Important
Hoary vervain is a very important plant, especially for gardens that attract butterflies. Its leaves are the perfect food for the larval form, or caterpillar, of the common buckeye butterfly. This means the caterpillars eat the leaves to grow! The tiny seeds of hoary vervain are also a good food source for many small birds and mammals.
