Leaf
Leon Perrie · CC BY 4.0
Argentinian vervain
Verbena bonariensis L.
Also known as: Purpletop vervain, Tall verbena
Family: Verbenaceae
1 to 1.50 m tall
Grown in borders, also naturalised on wasteland and roadsides
Flowering: June – October
Full sun
Fairly hardy, to about -12°C, self-sows easily in mild regions
❓ How do you recognise this plant?
Thanks to its long, bare, rigid stems, Argentinian vervain creates a unique see-through effect in borders — the purple flowers seem to float above the other plants without blocking the view behind them.
🍃 Leaves
Oblong, toothed, rough, arranged in a basal rosette and along the stems
🌸 Flowers
Small, purple, grouped in small dense corymbs at the top of long, rigid, bare stems
🍎 Fruits
Small achene
🪵 Bark
Tall herbaceous stem, angular, sparsely branched at the base
🗺️ Distribution
Native to South America; widely grown in France, occasionally naturalised in the south
🐝 Value for pollinators
Long, very nectar-rich flowering period; one of the most attractive perennials for butterflies, notably monarchs and peacock butterflies
✂️ Horticultural uses
Border perennial with an airy, see-through silhouette, planted in drifts for its long bare stems topped with purple clusters
⚠️ Possible toxicity
No known toxicity
🌿 Other Verbenaceae to discover
ℹ️ Educational profile — do not use it to judge whether a plant is edible or safe.
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