Leaf
Emmanuel Stratmains, Tela Botanica · CC BY-SA 2.0
Common vervain
Verbena officinalis L.
Also known as: Vervain, Herb of grace
Family: Verbenaceae
30 to 80 cm tall
Banks, track edges, gardens, all soils
Flowering: June – October
Full sun
Hardy to -20°C
❓ How do you recognise this plant?
Long regarded as a protective magical plant, it was used in many traditional rituals.
🍃 Leaves
Cut into toothed lobes, bright green, slightly rough
🌸 Flowers
Tiny pale mauve flowers on long, slender, upright spikes
🍎 Fruits
Small dry achenes
🪵 Bark
Upright clump, square stems
🗺️ Distribution
Europe, temperate Asia, North Africa; common on wasteland and track edges in France.
🐝 Value for pollinators
Small, discreet mauve flowers, visited by small bees and hoverflies in summer.
✂️ Horticultural uses
Naturalistic borders, medicinal herb gardens; traditional use as an herbal tea, little grown in ornamental borders.
⚠️ Possible toxicity
No notable known toxicity at usual doses.
🌿 Other Verbenaceae to discover
ℹ️ Educational profile — do not use it to judge whether a plant is edible or safe.
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