(Swamp Vervain) Blue Vervain grows erect to 40" tall on square stems with branching near the top. The inflorescence is a loosely branched terminal cluster. The individual flowers are blue, quite small, 1/8" to 1/4" wide, 5-parted, with the flower tube hairy. Flowers open individually on the densely packed spike from bottom to top with only a few open at one time on each spike. Leaves are opposite, lance-like with coarse teeth. Lower leaves up to seven inches long. Stems are not hairy.

Habitat: Blue Vervain is found in moist places - stream banks, pond edges, meadows and moist prairies. It requires full sun and a loamy soil. Comparisons: The differences between this plant and Hoary Vervain, V. stricta, are that V. stricta has elliptical leaves and long hairs on the stem. The flowers are similar. White Vervain, V. urticifolia, has similar, but white flowers and a spreading loose inflorescence of many spikes. Names: The species name, hastata, refers to the leaf which has a spear shape with a basal lobe that faces out like a halberd. See the photo below. The alternate common name of Swamp Vervain refers to a common habitat of this plant being stream and pond banks. See notes below on the origin of Verbena.