Flower for the Day Verbena 7-23-25

We have had verbena (Verbena officinalis) for over 40 years. It is a native herbaceous plant. The leaves are usually opposite, simple, and in many species hairy, often densely so. The 2 to 3 foot tall stems have umbels of flowers which are small with five petals. It is somewhat invasive but very easy to remove if needed.

Verbena (or vervain) has long been associated with divine and other supernatural forces. It was called "Tears of Isis" in ancient Egypt, and later called "Hera's Tears". In ancient Greece, it was dedicated to Eos Erigineia. It was a sacred plant to the Romans and Pliny the Elder described verbena.

Nulla tamen Romae nobilitatis plus habet quam hiera botane. aliqui aristereon, nostri verbenacam vocant. haec est quam legatos ferre ad hostes indicavimus; hac Iovis mensa verritur, domus purgantur lustranturque. genera eius duo: foliosa, quam feminam putant, mas rarioribus foliis.                                         Verbena Flowers                               Tall verbena flowers                                       line purple gardens                                      swaying to tango music                                                        in old Buenos Aires' good air.                                      Gilda Castillo

No plant however is so renowned among the Romans as hiera botane ('sacred plant'). Some call it aristereon, and Latin writers verbenaca. This is the plant which I mentioned as carried to the enemy by envoys. With this the table of Jupiter is swept, and homes are cleansed and purified. There are two kinds of it; one has many leaves and is thought to be female, the other, the male, has fewer leaves.