What Makes Vervain Special? A Full Breakdown of Its Unique Characteristics

Other Names for Vervain

Purple-topped dragon's tooth grass, wild catnip, dragon's tooth grass, phoenix-neck grass, dragonfly grass, blood-staunching grass, swallowtail grass; Latin scientific name HerbaVerbenaeOfficinalis

Vervain Family and Genus

Verbenaceae

Vervain Distribution Region

Southwest China, Shanxi, Shaanxi, Gansu, Xinjiang, Jiangsu, Anhui, Zhejiang, Jiangxi, Fujian

Vervain Morphological Characteristics

Vervain is a perennial herbaceous plant. Because its whip-like sheath is spike-shaped, it is also called vervain. The stem of vervain is square, square in the upper part and nearly round in the lower part, with short stiff hairs on the ridges and nodes. The leaves are simple and opposite, ovate, with deep divisions similar to chicken claws; the lobes show irregular pinnate splitting. Both the upper and lower surfaces of the leaves are covered with stiff hairs, and the hairs on the veins of the lower surface are especially dense.

The flowers of vervain are blue-purple spike-shaped inflorescences, generally opening in summer and autumn; the calyx is membranous and tubular, with the tip divided into 5 lobes like a chicken claw; the fruit of vervain is enclosed within the calyx and splits open into 4 small nutlets when mature; the flowering period of vervain is 7-8 months, and the fruiting period is 10-11 months.

Vervain Growth Habits

Vervain likes fertilizer and can grow in ordinary soil, but grows robustly in deep, fertile sandy loam; low-lying, easily waterlogged land is not suitable for planting. Vervain likes a humid environment but is afraid of waterlogging, so when watering, avoid water accumulating in the pot. Choose loam or sandy loam with a relatively thick soil layer as the planting site. Sow in late 4 month to early 5 month. Prevent weeds and keep the field free of weeds. Long periods of heavy water accumulation in the field can cause root rot; as long as drainage is timely and the soil is loosened, it can be avoided.

Vervain Flower Language

Justice and expectation. White vervain symbolizes purity and innocence, and the expectation that one's love will return. Red vervain symbolizes working together with one heart and a harmonious family in which all undertakings prosper.

Vervain Symbolic Meaning

Vervain is regarded as a sacred flower in Christianity. In medieval legend it had the effect of breaking spells, and it was often used to decorate altars of religious significance. In many literary and artistic works there are descriptions of vervain restraining vampires.

Vervain Forecasts the Weather

Wild vervain can forecast the weather. Vervain is very sensitive to humidity; when the roots exposed outside the soil become moldy and whitish, it indicates rain.