Verbena Flowers

Verbena (vervain) is a sun‑loving, long‑blooming ornamental prized for clouds of small flowers in purple, pink, red, blue, or white. Trailing types spill from baskets and beds, while tall species like Verbena bonariensis add airy height and are magnets for butterflies and bees. With heat tolerance and near‑continuous bloom, verbena brings color to containers and borders all season.

Occasions & recipients

Find flowers by occasion

Best occasions

  • Get‑well wishes
  • Housewarming
  • Summer birthday
  • Thank‑you/host gift
  • New home garden starter
  • Thinking‑of‑you

Suitable for

  • Friends and neighbors
  • Family members
  • Colleagues/clients (neutral, cheerful)
  • Gardeners and pollinator lovers
  • New or budding romantic partners
Color taboos
  • White arrangements can signify mourning/funerals in parts of East Asia—avoid for celebratory gifts there.
  • Deep purple can be associated with mourning in Brazil and for widows in Thailand—use softer tints if unsure.
  • Bold red reads overtly romantic in many cultures—avoid for formal professional gifting.
Card messages
  • May these blossoms bring healing and gentle strength—thinking of you.
  • A little color for your space—wishing you light, calm, and creativity.
  • For your new home: long blooms and happy days ahead!
  • You enchant every garden you touch—thank you for all you do.
  • Warm wishes for a bright season—may your days bloom from now to frost.
  • Sending soothing blooms and sunny thoughts as you recover.

At a glance

Key details

Quick reference for habitat, gifting etiquette, and safety when choosing flowers for different occasions and recipients.

Use this section as a practical checklist: where they grow, how to present them thoughtfully, and what to keep in mind regarding toxicity and sensitivity.

Botanical info

Taxonomy
Kingdom: Plantae; Clade: Angiosperms; Order: Lamiales; Family: Verbenaceae; Genus: Verbena (common names: verbena, vervain). Notable ornamentals include V. x hybrida (garden verbena) and V. bonariensis (purpletop vervain).
Distribution
Genus Verbena (vervain) includes species native to the Americas and Eurasia (e.g., V. bonariensis from South America; V. officinalis from Europe/N. Africa/W. Asia); now widely cultivated and naturalized in temperate–subtropical regions worldwide.
Conservation
Most ornamental verbenas are common in cultivation and not globally threatened. Some species/cultivars (e.g., V. bonariensis) can self‑seed and are invasive in parts of Australia and elsewhere—check local weed lists and use sterile cultivars where recommended. Prefer nursery‑propagated plants; avoid wild collection; plant regionally appropriate species to support pollinators.
Presentation etiquette
Verbena is best gifted as a healthy potted plant or hanging basket (trailing types) or as airy stems tucked into a mixed, short‑stem bouquet. Include a simple care card: full sun, regular water, and deadheading. Choose sterile or non‑invasive cultivars where self‑seeding is a concern. For formal or somber occasions, opt for softer hues and understated designs; for professional settings, keep arrangements neat and unscented.
Ideal delivery time
Morning delivery in spring–summer for best freshness. Keep plants cool and shaded in transit; deliver cut stems the same day, hydrated, and avoid extreme heat.
Toxicity
Generally low toxicity. Garden verbena is considered non‑toxic to humans and typically non‑toxic to pets, though ingestion may cause mild gastrointestinal upset. Essential oils/extracts can irritate skin; lemon verbena (a different plant, Aloysia citrodora) can be mildly toxic to pets. Avoid medicinal use of V. officinalis during pregnancy and consult a professional for herb use.
Allergenicity
Low airborne allergen profile; insect‑pollinated with minimal wind‑borne pollen. Generally suitable for allergy‑sensitive recipients, though sensitive individuals may get mild contact irritation from sap or essential oils.

Meaning & taboos

Symbolism & color
Steeped in folklore as a sacred, purifying herb, verbena symbolizes healing, protection, and inspired creativity. In the Victorian language of flowers it conveys enchantment and sincere, prayerful good wishes—making it a gentle, uplifting gift.

Growing & tools

Care & gear
Growing tips
Full sun (6–8+ hrs). Light, well‑drained soil; avoid waterlogging. Feed lightly with balanced fertilizer; too much nitrogen reduces bloom. Water regularly but let the topsoil dry between waterings; drought‑tolerant once established. Deadhead or shear midseason to prolong bloom from late spring to frost. Annual hybrids are best treated as warm‑season annuals; V. bonariensis is a short‑lived perennial (USDA ~7–10) that may self‑seed. Propagate by seed or softwood cuttings.
Recommended tools
  • Hand pruners for deadheading
  • Well‑draining potting mix
  • Balanced slow‑release fertilizer
  • Watering can with fine rose
  • Hanging basket or window box
Symbolizes
  • Healing
  • Protection
  • Enchantment
  • Creativity/Inspiration
  • Good wishes/benediction