Verbena simplex

Verbena simplex
Conservation status
Secure (NatureServe)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Embryophytes
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Spermatophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Asterids
Order:	Lamiales
Family:	Verbenaceae
Genus:	Verbena
Species:	V. simplex
Binomial name
Verbena simplex Lehm.
Synonyms
Verbena angustifolia Michx.1

Verbena simplex is a species of flowering plant in the vervain family, Verbenaceae.²³ It is commonly known as narrowleaf vervain, and is a perennial herbaceous plant. It is native to central and eastern North America where it is found in open, dry, habitats on calcareous soil. It produces lavender flowers in the summer.

Verbena simplex is a perennial wildflower that grows as erect stems, branching from the base of the plant and unbranched or sparingly branched above, to a height of 24–76 cm (0.8–2.5 ft). Pairs of opposite, narrow leaves are spaced along the stems, which are glabrous or short-pubescent. The leaves measure 3–10 cm (1.25–4 in) long and less than 1 cm (0.5 in) across.⁴ The leaves are sessile or they may have a winged petiole. They are unlobed and finely toothed, narrowly lanceolate to oblanceolate or linear.⁵

The inflorescence is a solitary flowering spike, measuring 4–25 cm (1.6–9.8 in) long and 5–8 cm (2.0–3.1 in) in diameter, at the end of the stem. The 5-lobed flowers are dark lavender or purple to white or bluish, 4–6 mm (0.2–0.2 in) long, and shaped like a trumpet.⁵

V. simplex is native in the United States from Nebraska to the west, Texas and Florida to the south, Massachusetts to the east and the Canadian border to the north. In Canada, it is native in Ontario and Quebec.⁶ It is tolerant of disturbance, and is often seen in pastures and roadsides with sparse vegetation.⁵

It is listed as endangered in Massachusetts⁷ and New Jersey,⁸ and as a species of special concern in Connecticut,⁹ Minnesota,¹⁰ and Wisconsin.

The flowers bloom June through August¹⁰ and are attractive to bees, skippers and probably butterflies.⁴