This perennial flower is native to North America but is widely found in the UK after escaping from gardens. It is a tall and slender-stemmed perennial. It can grow to 180 cm tall and can spread to 90 cm wide. When mature it will develop a woody base.
Verbena has been used in herbalism for many years and also has a close association with certain religions, including Chritianity as the leaves of Verbena were believed to have been used to heal the wounds of Jesus as he was taken from the cross.
Nowadays, the essential oil has commercial use as a perfume and also in medicine and herbal medicine.
Tightly packed clusters of lilac-purple flowers grow on top of the tall branching stems. The flowers are a favourite with pollinators, as blooms produce ample supplies of nectar for bees and butterflies. The individual flowers are quite small so several bees or hoverflies can fit on at the same time.
