Annual or perennial herb Stem: decumbent to ascending. Leaves: opposite, toothed to pinnately lobed. Flowers: borne on slender elongated spikes to 1 cm across, having a bluish corolla and 4 - 5.5 mm long bracts, the lower bracts longer than the calyx. Fruit: four nutlets surrounded by the persistent calyx.

Similar species: Verbena x deamii is a hybrid of Verbena bracteata and Verbena stricta. The attributes of the hybrid are intermediate of the parents, resembling V. bracteata in its habit and foliage, but sharing the slender elongated spikes, smaller bracts, and larger flowers of V. stricta. See links below for further information on the parents.

Flowering: July to August

Habitat and ecology: Rare in dry soil, along railroads.

Occurence in the Chicago region: native

Etymology: Verbena is the Latin name for vervain. Deamii was named after Charles Deam, a 20th century American botanist and forester.

Author: The Morton Arboretum