About Verbena simplex Lehm.
Verbena simplex Lehm. is a perennial wildflower that produces erect stems. Stems branch from the plant's base, and are unbranched or only sparingly branched above; they reach a height of 24–76 cm (0.8–2.5 ft). Pairs of opposite, narrow leaves grow spaced along the stems. Stems are either glabrous or covered in short fine hairs. Leaves measure 3–10 cm (1.25–4 in) long and less than 1 cm (0.5 in) across. They can be sessile, or have a winged petiole. Leaves are unlobed with fine teeth, and shaped from narrowly lanceolate to oblanceolate or linear. The inflorescence is a single flowering spike that grows at the end of the stem, measuring 4–25 cm (1.6–9.8 in) long and 5–8 cm (2.0–3.1 in) in diameter. The 5-lobed flowers are trumpet-shaped, and range in color from dark lavender or purple to white or bluish; they are 4–6 mm long. Verbena simplex is native to the United States, where its range extends west to Nebraska, south to Texas and Florida, east to Massachusetts, and north to the Canadian border. In Canada, it is native to Ontario and Quebec. This species is tolerant of disturbance, and is most often found in pastures and roadsides with sparse vegetation. Its flowers bloom from June through August, and are attractive to bees and skippers, and are likely also attractive to butterflies.
