Verbena lasiostachys var. scabrida
Robust vervain
(c) Don Loarie, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Verbenaceae · Type: Perennial · Native
Verbena lasiostachys var. scabrida (Robust vervain) is a native California perennial in the Verbenaceae family, recognized by green, stiff-hairy leaf surface vs. gray-green soft-hairy in var. lasiostachys.
Robust vervain is a California native perennial found in southern Northwest California, southern Sierra Nevada Foothills, Tehama, Sacramento Valley, Central Western, Southern California, Channel Islands, Western Transverse Ranges, and western Peninsular Ranges in open, dry to wet places at elevations below 2,300 meters. Flowering from May to September, this plant produces lavender to purple flowers in dense, slender spikes. Growing with erect stems 20 to 60 centimeters tall, it forms clumps with multiple branching stalks. Its leaves are green and distinctively stiff-hairy, creating a rough texture on the upper surface. The small nutlets have a white, papillate scar that provides a distinctive identifying characteristic.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 10 sympatric species; key feature is green, stiff-hairy leaf surface vs. gray-green soft-hairy in var. lasiostachys
Habitat and range
Habitat: Open, dry to wet places
Elevation: < 2300 m
California counties: San Luis Obispo, Ventura, Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, Kern, Colusa, Orange, San Diego, Glenn, San Bernardino, Mendocino, Monterey, Tulare, Trinity, Sonoma, Marin, Lake, Contra Costa, Santa Clara, Butte, Sutter, Fresno, Tehama, Alameda, San Mateo, Calaveras, Napa, Solano
Outside California: Baja California
Bloom period
Verbena lasiostachys var. scabrida blooms May-Sep.
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 lasiostachys var. scabrida native to California?
Yes. Verbena lasiostachys var. scabrida is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Verbena lasiostachys var. scabrida bloom?
Verbena lasiostachys var. scabrida blooms May-Sep.
Where in California does Verbena lasiostachys var. scabrida grow?
Verbena lasiostachys var. scabrida occurs in San Luis Obispo, Ventura, Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, Kern, Colusa, Orange, San Diego and other counties, at elevations of < 2300 m.
What plant family does Verbena lasiostachys var. scabrida belong to?
Verbena lasiostachys var. scabrida is in the Verbenaceae family, genus Verbena.
What habitat does Verbena lasiostachys var. scabrida grow in?
Verbena lasiostachys var. scabrida grows in Open, dry to wet places.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-09-30
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.