This native perennial grows up to 4 feet tall. The opposite, coarsely toothed, rounded, stalkless leaves are up to 4 inches long and 2 1/2 inches wide (A). The leaves are covered with dense, soft white hairs. One to several erect spikes of rose to purplish-blue tubular 1/4 inch flowers with 5 slightly irregular spreading lobes occur at the top of the plant (B,C). Flowering proceeds from base to tip.
Grows on disturbed upland sites including overgrazed pastures, degraded prairies and roadsides, flowering from June through September. At Neale Woods, Hoary Vervain is common along the roadside near the Carl Jonas Interpretive Center.
Stalkless leaves covered with soft white hairs, rounded tips of flower spikes and preference for drier upland sites separate this plant from Blue Vervain, (Verbena hastata).
This is a bitter-tasting plant avoided by livestock, often becoming abundant in overgrazed pastures.
Other common names include Wooly Verbena and Mullein-Leaved Verbena.
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