Hoary Vervain

Verbena stricta

Tall native short-lived perennial with blue-violet flowers, blooming June to October. Drought tolerant, preferring sandy well-drained soils of dry fields, meadows, pastures, roadsides and disturbed areas. Not competitive with vigorous grasses. Not palatable to ungulates, spreading in overgrazed pastures. Seeds eaten by birds and small mammals. Preferred nectar plant of bees and butterflies.