Blue Vervain - Wild Hyssop (Verbena hastata) American Vervain Swamp Verbena Herb

Blue Vervain - Wild Hyssop (Verbena hastata) American Vervain Swamp Verbena Herb

Perennial

Height  4 ft

Verbena hastata, Blue Vervain is also known as American vervain, or swamp verbena, and is a flowering plant in the vervain family Verbenaceae. It is a perennial herbaceous plant with opposite, simple leaves which have double-serrate margins, borne on stiffly erect, branching square stems. The silky pale purple flowers appear in summer and makes excellent cut flowers! Great for borders, cottage gardens or statement plants on their own.

• Full sun
• Start seeds indoors 4 to 5 weeks before the last frost. Place seeds on top of bare soil in pots. Seeds need light to germinate, so barely cover and keep the soil moist, but not wet. 
• OR sow direct outdoors in the fall. Cultivate the soil lightly and remove weeds. Sprinkle the seeds over the surface of the soil, then use a rake to cover the seeds no more than 1/8 in. in the preferred location. 
• Germinates in 5 to 10 days with 21 C
• Harvest: wait until the purple spikes turn brown and appear dry. Snip off the spikes and store them in a paper bag in a cool and dry place for at least a week. After a week, hold the base of the spike with one hand, lightly pinch the base with your thumb/index finger of your other hand, and move in a motion going from the base to the ends. The seeds will just fall off with almost no chaff. This is really one of the easiest, and cleanest seeds to harvest. You can then store them in envelopes and place in a dark dry place until needed.
• Seed Count: 50