Blue Vervain

Beautiful, stately perennial with striking blue/violet flowers that bloom in dense spikes and can grow to 6 feet. Native to North America, these flowers are insect-pollinated. Some of these pollinating insects are the Checkered White Butterflies, Swallowtail Butterflies, Skippers , Bumblebees, Honey Bees, and Mining Bees. The edible seeds, or nutlets, persist upon the plant throughout the winter. During the winter months, many species of birds will eat these seeds directly off the spikes. Some of those birds are the Song Sparrow, the Northern Cardinal, and the Dark-eyed Junco.

Both the Native Americans and the early European settlers had numerous edible, medicinal, and folk uses for the Blue Vervain. The roots can be harvested year-round. The top parts are harvested when the plant was in bloom.
The seeds are either dried or roasted and ground into a flour substitute.

Historical use is documented for insomnia, expelling worms, repairing a damaged liver or spleen and a cure for fits and seizures. Excellent ally for unrelenting mind chatter keeping you awake at night! A leaf tea was made as a spring tonic, which was called Simpler’s Joy. This is a perfect plant for the back border of the herb garden. It requires a moist location in the sun. Very hardy Perennial in zones 3-8