Verbena scabra
Rough vervain
(c) Alison Northup, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Alison Northup · licence
Family: Verbenaceae · Type: Subshrub · Native
Verbena scabra (Rough vervain) is a native California subshrub in the Verbenaceae family, recognized by slender open spikes with simple petiolate leaves vs. lobed leaves in V. menthifolia.
Rough vervain is a California native perennial found in southern California coastal regions, western Peninsular Ranges, and Channel Islands in wet places and marshes at elevations below 300 meters. Flowering from September to October, this plant produces blue to lavender flowers in slender spikes 4 to 12 centimeters long. Growing 40 to 100 centimeters tall with 1 to 3 generally erect stems that are strigose and somewhat rough-textured. Its leaves are lanceolate to ovate, 4 to 10 centimeters long with toothed edges, carried on petioles 1 to 2.5 centimeters long and covered in stiff hairs. The small fruits are 1 to 1.5 millimeters long, clustered in open, delicate spikes.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 6 sympatric species; key features are slender open spikes with simple petiolate leaves vs. lobed leaves in V. menthifolia
Habitat and range
Habitat: Wet places, marshes
Elevation: < 300 m
Outside California: to southeastern United States, northern Mexico
Bloom period
Verbena scabra blooms Sep-Oct.
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 scabra native to California?
Yes. Verbena scabra is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Verbena scabra bloom?
Verbena scabra blooms Sep-Oct.
What plant family does Verbena scabra belong to?
Verbena scabra is in the Verbenaceae family, genus Verbena.
What habitat does Verbena scabra grow in?
Verbena scabra grows in Wet places, marshes.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos
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.