Considering the large size of this plant, its flowers are remarkably small. The scientific name refers to the resemblance of its leaves to those of Urtica spp. (Nettles). White Vervain resembles two of its relatives, Verbena hastata (Blue Vervain) and Verbena officinalis (European Vervain). Blue Vervain has more narrow leaves and its flowers are conspicuously blue, rather than bright white. It is found in sunny wetland habitats more often than White Vervain. European Vervain has small flowers that are white or lavender. It differs from White Vervain primarily by its pinnatifid leaves, which have cleft lobes.

This native wildflower is an annual, biennial, or short-lived perennial about 3-6' tall; it branches occasionally in the upper half. The central stem is light green, stout, 4-angled, and densely covered with long spreading hairs. Along its length are pairs of opposite leaves up to 6' long and 2¼' across; they are lanceolate to ovate and coarsely serrated along their margins. The upper surface of each leaf is medium to dark green, shiny, hairless to slightly hairy, and wrinkled along the veins; its lower surface is light green and more hairy. The petioles of the leaves are up to 2' long. The central stem terminates in a panicle of floral spikes up to 2' long and half as much across; the upper side stems also terminate in such panicles, although they are smaller in size. Each panicle has narrow ascending branches (up to 6' long) and an airy appearance; sessile small flowers are sparsely distributed along each of these branches. Each flower is 1/8' across, consisting of a white corolla with 5 rounded lobes and a tubular green calyx with 5 lanceolate teeth. The blooming period occurs from mid-summer to early fall and lasts about 1½ months. Only a few flowers bloom at the same time. Each flower is replaced by 4 nutlets that are oblongoid and flattened. This wildflower reproduces by reseeding itself.

White Vervain occurs in every county of Illinois and is quite common (see Distribution Map). Habitats include disturbed woodlands, woodland borders, thickets, powerline clearances in wooded areas, semi-shaded areas along paths, damp meadows along streams, gravelly seeps, and abandoned fields. This species is usually found in habitats with a history of disturbance. It is somewhat weedy.

Verbena urticifolia L.:
Canada (North America)
United States (North America)

Note: This information is based on publications available through Tropicos and may not represent the entire distribution. Tropicos does not categorize distributions as native or non-native.

Canada

Origin: Unknown/Undetermined

Regularity: Regularly occurring

Currently: Unknown/Undetermined

Confidence: Confident

United States

Origin: Native

Regularity: Regularly occurring

Currently: Present

Confidence: Confident

Type of Residency: Year-round

White Vervain occurs in every county of Illinois and is quite common (see Distribution Map). Habitats include disturbed woodlands, woodland borders, thickets, powerline clearances in wooded areas, semi-shaded areas along paths, damp meadows along streams, gravelly seeps, and abandoned fields. This species is usually found in habitats with a history of disturbance. It is somewhat weedy.

The nectar and pollen of the flowers attract long-tongued bees (honeybees, bumblebees, Little Carpenter bees, Cuckoo bees, Digger bees, & Large Leaf-Cutting bees), short-tongued bees (Halictid bees, & Dagger bees, including Calliopsis verbenae), various flies (Syrphid flies, Bee flies, Thick-Headed flies, & Tachinid flies), small butterflies, and wasps. These insects cross-pollinate the flowers. Insects that feed on the foliage of White Vervain and similar Verbena spp. (Vervains) include Crambodes talidiformis (Verbena Moth), Longitarsus suspectus (Flea Beetle sp.), and Macrosiphum verbenae (Verbena Aphid). The seeds are eaten occasionally by various granivorous songbirds, including the Slate-Colored Junco, Field Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Swamp Sparrow, Tree Sparrow, and White-Crowned Sparrow. In contrast, the bitter coarse foliage is rarely used as a food source by White-Tailed Deer and other mammalian herbivores.

Verbena urticifolia (White Vervain)
(Bees usually suck nectar and less often collect pollen; other insects suck nectar; most observations are from Robertson, otherwise they are from Krombein et al. and Graenicher as indicated below)

Bees (long-tongued)
Apidae (Apinae): Apis mellifera sn; Apidae (Bombini): Bombus impatiens sn, Bombus pensylvanica sn; Anthophoridae (Ceratinini): Ceratina dupla dupla sn cp; Anthophoridae (Epeolini): Epeolus bifasciatus sn, Triepeolus cressonii cressonii sn, Triepeolus lunatus concolor sn; Anthophoridae (Eucerini): Melissodes bimaculata bimaculata sn; Anthophoridae (Nomadini): Nomada texana sn; Megachilidae (Coelioxini): Coelioxys sayi sn fq; Megachilidae (Megachilini): Megachile brevis brevis sn, Megachile mendica sn; Megachilidae (Trypetini): Heriades leavitti sn

Bees (short-tongued)
Halictidae (Halictinae): Agapostemon sericea sn fq, Augochlora purus purus sn, Augochlorella aurata sn fq, Augochlorella striata sn fq, Augochloropsis metallica metallica sn, Halictus confusus sn fq, Halictus ligatus sn fq, Halictus rubicunda sn fq, Lasioglossum nelumbonis sn, Lasioglossum pectoralis sn, Lasioglossum pilosus pilosus sn, Lasioglossum versatus sn; Colletidae (Colletinae): Colletes nudus (Kr); Andrenidae (Panurginae): Calliopsis andreniformis sn cp fq (Rb, Kr), Calliopsis nebraskensis (Kr), Calliopsis verbenae sn cp fq icp olg

Wasps
Sphecidae (Sphecinae): Ammophila kennedyi, Eremnophila aureonotata icp; Tiphiidae: Myzinum quinquecincta; Scoliidae: Scolia bicincta

Flies
Syrphidae: Pseudodoros clavatus (Rb, Gr), Sphaerophoria contiqua, Syritta pipiens fq, Toxomerus geminatus; Empididae: Empis clausa; Bombyliidae: Chrysanthrax cypris, Exoprosopa fascipennis, Systropus macer, Toxophora amphitea; Conopidae: Stylogaster neglecta, Thecophora occidensis, Zodion obliquefasicatum; Tachinidae: Archytas analis, Clausicella geniculata fq, Copecrypta ruficauda fq, Gymnoclytia occidua, Phasia purpurascens, Spallanzania hesperidarum; Calliphoridae: Cochliomyia macellaria

Butterflies
Nymphalidae: Phyciodes tharos; Lycaenidae: Everes comyntas fq, Strymon melinus; Pieridae: Eurema lisa, Pieris rapae, Pontia protodice

Barcode of Life Data Systems (BOLDS) Stats
Public Records: 1
Specimens with Barcodes: 4
Species With Barcodes: 1

Canada

Rounded National Status Rank: NNR - Unranked

United States

Rounded National Status Rank: N5 - Secure

Rounded Global Status Rank: G5 - Secure

The preference is partial sun, moist to mesic conditions, and a fertile loam.