Verbena officinalis

Verbena officinalis L.

Verbena officinalis

Verbena officinalis, commonly known as common vervain or common verbena, is a perennial herb native to Europe. It grows up to 70 cm (28 in) tall with an upright habitus. The leaves are lobed and toothed, while the delicate spikes hold clusters of two-lipped mauve flowers. This plant prefers limey soils and is occasionally grown as an ornamental but is more frequently used for its medicinal properties. It can be propagated by root cuttings or seed and has naturalized widely outside its native range, including in North America.

Details

Order:

Lamiales

Family:

Verbenaceae

Genus:

Verbena

Chemistry:

Chemical investigations have identified several compounds in Verbena officinalis, including β-sitosterol, ursolic acid, oleanolic acid, 3-epiursolic acid, 3-epioleanolic acid, and minor triterpenoids. Chromatographic purification of the methanol extract yields iridoid glucosides (verbenalin and hastatoside), a phenylpropanoid glycoside (verbascoside), and β-sitosterol-D-glucoside. Hastatoside and verbenalin have sleep-promoting properties, and the plant also contains a monoterpene alcohol called verbenol. Other identified compounds include apigenin, 4'-hydroxywogonin, and aucubin.

Uses:

Verbena officinalis has a long history of medicinal use, dating back to classical antiquity. It is often used as a herbal tea for treating infections and fever. The herb has been used in traditional Austrian medicine and is sometimes considered a powerful ally for poets and writers due to its relaxing effects. It has also been used as an entheogen enhancer in North America. However, it should not be used during pregnancy as it may cause miscarriages.

Flowering time:

Summer

Sowing time:

Spring

Plant height:

70 cm (28 in)

Flower color:

Mauve

Suitable habitat:

Limey soils, often found in meadows and along roadsides.

Info

Pannon Flora Ltd. was founded on December 13, 1999, by Gábor Janik, who retains 95% ownership. Janik holds an MSc in Horticulture from the University of Horticultural Sciences (1986) and an Advanced Professional English Certification from the College of International Trade (1990). The company specializes in bird feed production and export, primarily serving markets in Italy, Germany, the Netherlands, and the UK, alongside cultivating and distributing imported/exported horticultural seeds. It maintains exclusive partnerships with JOEUN Seed (South Korea) and Takii Europe (Japan), a leader in professional seed breeding and production. Pannon Flora collaborates with certification bodies such as NÉBIH (National Food Chain Safety Office), MERT Kontroll, and SGS Hungary to ensure compliance and quality. The company works with approximately 400 Hungarian growers, ranging from small-scale producers (under 5 hectares) to mid-sized farms and large-scale agricultural enterprises. This profile emphasizes agribusiness expertise, technical partnerships, and operational scalability tailored to international client needs.

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