View source for Verbena hastata

{{SPlantbox
|familia=Verbenaceae
|genus=Verbena
|species=hastata
|common_name=American Blue Vervain, Blue Vervain, Swamp Verbena
|Min ht metric=cm
|Max ht box=1.5
|Max ht metric=m
|Max wd box=.6
|Max wd metric=m
|origin=N. America
|Min Temp Num=-20
|Temp Metric=°C
|min_zone=3
|image=Verbena hastata.JPG
|image_width=240
}}
'''''Verbena hastata''''' ('''Blue Vervain''' or '''Swamp Verbena''') is a [[flowering plant]] in the vervain family, [[Verbenaceae]]. It is a [[herbaceous plant|herb]] with opposite, simple [[leaf|leaves]] which have double-serate margins, borne on stiffly erect, branching square stems. The flowers appear in summer and are purple.

==Cultivation==
Succeeds in any moderately fertile well-drained but moisture retentive soil in a sunny position{{pfaf1}} {{pfaf200}}. Plants are hardy to about -20°c{{pfaf187}}.

The plant prefers light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and requires well-drained soil{{pfaf}}. The plant prefers acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It requires moist soil{{pfaf}}.

===Propagation===
Seed - sow early spring in a greenhouse or cold frame and only just cover the seed{{pfaf1}}. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and plant them out in the summer. Division in spring. Larger divisions can be planted out direct into their permanent positions. We have found that it is best to pot up smaller divisions and grow them on in light shade in a greenhouse or cold frame until they are growing away well. Plant them out in the summer or the following spring. Basal cuttings in early summer. Harvest the shoots with plenty of underground stem when they are about 8 - 10cm above the ground. Pot them up into individual pots and keep them in light shade in a cold frame or greenhouse until they are rooting well. Plant them out in the summer{{pfaf}}.

===Pests and diseases===
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==Species==
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==Gallery==
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==References==
*[[Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture]], by L. H. Bailey, MacMillan Co., 1963
*http://www.pfaf.org/database/plants.php?Verbena+hastata
<!--- xxxxx  *Flora: The Gardener's Bible, by Sean Hogan. Global Book Publishing, 2003. ISBN 0881925381  -->
<!--- xxxxx  *American Horticultural Society: A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants, by Christopher Brickell, Judith D. Zuk. 1996. ISBN 0789419432  -->
<!--- xxxxx  *Sunset National Garden Book. Sunset Books, Inc., 1997. ISBN 0376038608  -->

==External links==
*{{wplink}}

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