Verbena halei
Texas vervain
South-central United States and northern Mexico
Attracts PollinatorsAttracts ButterfliesDeer ResistantDrought TolerantContainer Friendly
Native to North America
Overview
Verbena halei is a slender, upright perennial herb in the vervain family, native to the south-central United States and Mexico, growing 1-3 feet (30-90 cm) tall from a woody base. The thin, square stems are sparsely branched and carry opposite leaves that vary along the stem: the lower leaves are deeply cut into narrow lobes 1-3 inches (2.5-8 cm) long, while the upper leaves are smaller and nearly unlobed. From spring into fall it produces slim, elongating flower spikes tipped with small five-lobed flowers about 0.2 inch (5 mm) across in pale lavender to blue-violet. Each spike opens a few flowers at a time from the base upward over many weeks, followed by small dry nutlets. It grows in open grasslands, prairies, roadsides, and disturbed ground, tolerating heat and drought on poor soils. The flowers are small and widely spaced along the spikes, giving the plant a light, open look, and it can self-seed into bare ground.
Native Range
Native to the south-central United States and northern Mexico, common across Texas and extending into Oklahoma, Louisiana, New Mexico, and adjacent states. It grows in prairies, open woods, pastures, and roadsides, mostly on dry, sunny sites.Suggested Uses
Used in native, prairie, and pollinator plantings, wildflower meadows, and informal borders on dry soil. Its airy form suits naturalized settings and gravel gardens more than tightly designed beds.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height1' - 3'
Width/Spread1' - 1'6"
Bloom Information
Flowering runs from spring through fall, roughly March to November in warm areas, peaking in spring and again after summer rains. Each slim spike lengthens as it blooms, carrying a few open lavender flowers at a time over an extended period. Dry nutlets follow and scatter near the parent plant.
Detailed Descriptions
Flower Description
pale lavender to blue-violetFoliage Description
greenGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 6-12 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight
Care & Maintenance
Care Guide
Grows in full sun on dry, well-drained sandy, rocky, or loamy soils and tolerates heat, drought, and poor fertility once established. It is hardy roughly in USDA zones 7-10 and may behave as a short-lived perennial or reseeding annual at the cold edge of its range. Little water is needed after establishment, and rich or wet soils produce weak, floppy growth and shorten its life. It self-sows in open ground and can spread on disturbed sites. Shearing after the first flush brings on rebloom and tidier growth. Few serious pests affect it, though powdery mildew can occur in crowded, shaded conditions.Pruning
Shearing the plant by a third after the first bloom flush renews growth and brings on more flowering. Removing spent spikes through the season limits self-seeding and keeps the form neat. Old stems can be cut to the base in late winter.Container Growing
✓ Suitable for container growing
Minimum container size: 2 gallons