What is Blue Vervain?

Blue Vervain is the dried aerial parts of Verbena hastata, a tall wildflower in the vervain family (Verbenaceae) native to wet meadows and stream banks across eastern and central North America. It is a different species from European Vervain (Verbena officinalis).

About the plant

Blue Vervain is a perennial with narrow lance-shaped leaves and slender purple-blue flower spikes that rise above the plant in summer. It figures in several Native American herbal traditions and was widely used in nineteenth-century Eclectic Western herbalism. Its characteristic constituents include iridoid glycosides such as verbenalin. The dried herb is intensely bitter and is often blended with milder herbs.

Blue Vervain: form & sizes

We carry Blue Vervain as cut and sifted dried aerial parts, sold by weight in sizes from 1 oz to 1 lb. We make no health or therapeutic claims.

Storage

Store Blue Vervain in an airtight container, away from heat, light, and humidity, to preserve its color and aroma.

Blue Vervain at a glance

Botanical name

Verbena hastata

Family

Verbenaceae

Native region

eastern and central North America

Plant part

aerial parts

Also known as

Swamp Verbena, American Vervain

Form

cut and sifted dried aerial parts

Sizes

1 oz to 1 lb