Verbena urticifolia - White Vervain

Family:	Verbenaceae
Habit:	Perennial
Height:	0.25
Synonyms:
Range:	Eastern N. America - Quebec and Ontario to North Dakota, south to Florida and Texas.

Verbena urticifolia (White Vervain) is a Perennial which grows to a height of 0.25m . It has a hardness rating of 5.
The flowers from this plant are hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and they are pollinated by Bees, flies, lepidoptera, self

Soil Information

White Vervain will grow in light (sandy),medium (loamy),hard (clay) soil. It is / is important for the soil to be well drained.
The soil prefers the following PH / acid levels :
- pH of less than 6, Acidic soils
- pH between 6 and 8, Neutral soils
- pH greater than 8, Basic soils
White Vervain prefers moist soils

Ideal Planting Locations

White Vervain should not be planted in shady areas.

Woodlands, pastures, along streams, roadsides and waste areas[228].

Planting places suited to this plant described below.

• Grows within a woodland garden
• Grows on a sunny edge
• Can be planted in Cultivated Beds

Cultivation Details

Succeeds in any moderately fertile well-drained but moisture retentive soil in a sunny position[1, 200]. Hardy to about -15°c[200].

Edible Uses*

* See disclaimer
Edible Rating: 0/5
None known

Medicinal Uses*

* See disclaimer
Medicinal Rating: 1/5
A decoction of the root is given to babies to break out the hives[207]. The sweetened root decoction is drunk as an aid for flu[207]. An infusion of the root has been used in the treatment of profuse menstruation[257]. The root has been eaten to revive a patient and restore them to health[257].

• Miscellany - Various medicinal actions that need more clarification.
• Restorative - Restores consciousness or normal physiological activity.
• Women's complaints - A very vague title, it deals with a miscellany of problems peculiar to the female sex.

Propagation

Seed - sow early spring in a greenhouse or cold frame[1]. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and plant them out in the summer. Division in spring. Larger divisions can be planted out direct into their permanent positions. We have found that it is best to pot up smaller divisions and grow them on in light shade in a greenhouse or cold frame until they are growing away well. Plant them out in the summer or the following spring. Basal cuttings in early summer. Harvest the shoots with plenty of underground stem when they are about 8 - 10cm above the ground. Pot them up into individual pots and keep them in light shade in a cold frame or greenhouse until they are rooting well. Plant them out in the summer.

Known Hazards

None known

Other Uses

None known

Cultivars

no recorded cultivars

References

Gray's Manual of Botany.
Fernald. M. L.
Author: Fernald. M. L.
Rating:
Publisher : A bit dated but good and concise flora of the eastern part of N. America.
Date of Publication : 1950

The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Huxley. A.
Author: Huxley. A.
Rating:
Publisher : Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
Date of Publication : 1992

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