Blue Vervain

Verbena hastata

The blue vervain, or Verbena hastata, is the most popular Verbena in the market place today, but its European cousin, V officinalis, known simply as ‘vervain,’ also has medicinal properties and is used widely.  If you are collecting seed locally for your blue vervain planting, get a positive identification on the plant, since it also has several wild relatives in the Great Plains, including hoary vervain (V. stricta), narrow-leaved (V. simplex), pink (V. pumila), nettle-leaved (V. urticifolia), fanleaf (V. plicata), etc...The Dakota name for blue vervain translates as the word “medicine,” and the Omaha and Ponca nmae translates as “herb medicine.”

Family:  Verbenaceae
Life cycle: Perennial; herbaceous (Zones 3-7)
Native: North America, including Great Plains region.  Found in prairies and meadows, low open woodlands, stream banks, springs, seepage areas and roadsides.
Height: 3 to 5 feet
Sun: Sun, partial shade
Soil:  Prefers well drained soil high in organic matter
Water: Moderate
Flowers: Flowers are blue to purple spikes that stretch from spike base to the tip bloom from mid to late summer.
Seeds: Stratify seeds for 2 weeks then sow indoors.  Germination in 14-21 days. Transplant the flowers by mid to late spring, spacing 12 inches apart.
Pests:   In some locations/years, this plant appears to be riddled with insect damage, and the leaves were quite discolored from this, and from possible foliar diseases.  During this past growing season, insect and disease damage were both quite low.  More research needs to be done on the effect of seed source, weather, and timing on these factors.
Harvesting: Harvest the aerial parts while the plant is in bloom. 
Parts used: Flowering aerial parts, fresh or dried.
Used as: Infusion, traditional tincture, cider vinegar tincture, syrup, elixir, lozenge, ointment, salve, cream, balm, foot soak, bath herb, honey.
Medicinal Benefits: The European vervain (V. officinalis) is listed in the PDR, and mentions a variety of folk uses ranging from relief for sore throat, coughs, asthma, whooping cough, treatment for nervous disorders, digestive disorders, and to promote lactation.  It is not to be taken during pregnancy, as it is a uterine stimulant.  The Peterson Field Guide (Foster and Duke) also list these effects, and then suggest that the European vervain is said to be milder than the blue vervain, or North American type.  They also mention that animal studies have demonstrated the anti-inflammatory, cough-suppressing and milk-stimulating activity of V. officinalis.  Blue vervain, or V. hastata was used by Native Americans for colds, coughs, fevers, bowel complaints, dysentery, and stomach cramps. The root was considered more active than the leaves. 
Market Potential: Moderate. Prices range from $4.50 - $22.25.  Certified organic blue vervain should bring a higher price in the market than wild-harvested.

KSU Field Trial Data - 2000-2002.

Summary of field trial data:  This species was planted at two locations in 2001; Wichita and Olathe, and did relatively well at both of them, with an average survival rate of 92%, and vigor rating of 4.6 on a 5 point scale.  The above ground biomass, which would be the marketable yield, was estimated at over 3000 lb/acre dw.  Insect and disease pressure, as noted above, was relatively high that year though, with a 2.4 insect rating, largely due to heavy insect feeding by an undetermined pest, or by generalist leaf eaters (like grasshoppers).  In the second year of the trial, plants only were evaluated at Wichita, with a 2^nd year survival rating of only 49%.  Above ground biomass yields were also down, possibly because of the extremely hot weather in 2002.  Evaluations are continuing in 2003 in old, and in new plots, as we think that this species has some potential as a crop in Kansas.  New biotypes need to be examined, and some of the related species of vervain should be tested for biological activity and medicinal components.  At this point, we can cautiously recommend this as a cash crop, especially based on the first year data, but more screening is needed.