Verbena californica
Red hills vervain, Red Hills Vervain
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Family: Verbenaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 1B.1 · Threatened
Verbena californica (Red hills vervain) is a native California herb in the Verbenaceae family, recognized by serpentine habitat, canescent pubescence, and open fruiting spikes.
Red hills vervain is a rare (CNPS 1B.1) California native perennial found in central Sierra Nevada foothills in Tuolumne County, specifically in wet places and serpentine soils within pine and oak woodland at elevations of 300 to 400 meters. Flowering from May to September, this plant produces violet to purple flowers in compact spikes 10 to 24 centimeters long. Growing with one to three decumbent to erect stems 30 to 75 centimeters tall, it has a slightly fuzzy or canescent appearance. Its leaves are elliptic to oblanceolate, 2 to 9 centimeters long, with entire or slightly toothed edges and a base that ranges from tapered to truncate. The small fruits are approximately 2 millimeters long, developing in open clusters that do not overlap.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 3 sympatric species; key features are serpentine habitat, canescent pubescence, and open fruiting spikes
Habitat and range
Habitat: Wet places, seeps, generally serpentine soils, pine/oak woodland
Elevation: 300-400 m
California counties: Tuolumne
Bloom period
Verbena californica blooms May-Sep.
Conservation status
CNPS 1B.1 · Threatened
How to tell it apart
vs Glandularia: Verbena has nearly regular flowers; Glandularia has more obviously lobed flowers (often treated as same genus).; vs Phacelia: Verbena has tubular flowers with 5-toothed calyx; Phacelia has bowl-shaped flowers with coiled inflorescence.; vs Salvia: Verbena has nearly regular flowers; Salvia has distinctly two-lipped flowers with mint-family square stems.; vs Limonium: Verbena has tubular flowers producing nutlets; Limonium has papery flowers producing capsules.; vs Lavandula: Verbena has nearly regular small flowers; Lavandula has dense spikes of purple flowers with aromatic foliage.
Frequently asked questions
Is Verbena californica native to California?
Yes. Verbena californica is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Verbena californica bloom?
Verbena californica blooms May-Sep.
Where in California does Verbena californica grow?
Verbena californica occurs in Tuolumne, at elevations of 300-400 m.
What plant family does Verbena californica belong to?
Verbena californica is in the Verbenaceae family, genus Verbena.
Is Verbena californica rare or endangered?
Verbena californica carries California Rare Plant Rank 1B.1, state rank S2.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CNPS Rare Plant Inventory · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos · CDFW CNDDB
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.