Pronounced (approximate): ver-BEE-nah SIM-pleks
Small pale lavender flowers open along slender spikes.
Narrow-leaved Vervain (Verbena simplex): flowers and plant details. Tap the photo to open the gallery.
Family Verbenaceae
Life cycle Herbaceous perennial
Blooms June–August
Height 1–2½ feet
Habitat Dry prairies, rocky openings, glades, and roadsides
Common names: Narrow-leaved Vervain · Narrowleaf Vervain
Bloom timing and height vary with location. See the regional range below.
Explore reported observations. Sightings are not a complete range map.
Dry prairies, rocky openings, glades, and roadsides. Flowering season: june–august.
The narrow leaves and relatively few slender spikes separate it from broad-leaved vervains.
Small pale lavender flowers open along slender spikes.
Opposite leaves are narrow, toothed, and nearly stalkless.
Upright stems are square in cross-section.
Dry prairies, rocky openings, glades, and roadsides.
10 field photographs. Select a photograph to enlarge it; use Load more photos to see the rest.
Native to central and eastern North America, with populations in northwestern Mexico.
Documented U.S. state records
AL, AR, CT, DE, DC, GA, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, MD, MA, MI, MN, MS, MO, NE, NH, NJ, NY, NC, OH, OK, PA, SC, TN, VT, VA, WV, WI
Documented state occurrences; native and introduced records may both be included. This is not a county-level map.
Observation maps show submitted records, not every place the plant occurs. Follow local access rules when visiting a site.
Practice recognizing Narrow-leaved Vervain in the flower quiz, or compare it with other plants in the guide.
Field photographs: Where’s Wildlife.