White Vervain

Verbena urticifolia

A common annual or biennial, this large plant sends up a main stem with numerous lateral branches, especially near the top, where branches may also produce smaller side branches. Each branch ends in a spike of closely spaced buds that open as small white flower (1/8 inch across) of 5 petals or lobes; a few or several open at a time, from the bottom of the spike up, and the floral spikes are spread widely on their branches, so the plant is never very showy despite its size.  Leaves are large (up to 6 inches long) and nettle-like in appearance: ovate-pointed, on a modest stalk of an inch or so, with prominent feather-veining and reguar, small, sharp teeth along the leaf edges.

2-5 feet, sun - partial sun.

Summer (June-September).

A terminal flower spike with smaller side spikes.

9 August 2020.

White Vervain, 5 August 2020.