When does Verbena urticifolia bloom?

White vervain typically blooms from June through September, producing slender spikes of small white flowers.

What pollinators visit Verbena urticifolia?

Bees, butterflies and beetles regularly visit the small flowers of white vervain for nectar and pollen.

What growing conditions suit Verbena urticifolia best?

It grows well in part sun with medium soil moisture, often along woodland edges, fields, and disturbed ground near streams or ditches.

Is Verbena urticifolia a woody plant?

No, it is a herbaceous forb that dies back to the ground each year and regrows from its roots or seed in spring.

Is Burvine HOA-friendly?

Burvine takes more care to look intentional in a front yard. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.

Burvine

Name: Pollinator Patch
Author: Pollinator Patch

Verbena urticifolia

Last reviewed: August 2026

Verbena urticifolia, or white vervain, is a tall forb with small white flowers blooming from June through September. It thrives in part sun with medium moisture and draws bees, butterflies and beetles.

Toxicity unknown

Burvine (Verbena urticifolia) is not listed by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (opens in new tab) or the other sources we check, so we have no verdict for it either way. Absence from those lists is not a clearance. If your pet shows symptoms after eating any plant, call the ASPCA at (888) 426-4435.

Light

part sun

Water

medium

Size

24"–48" H × 12"–24" W

Bloom

Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep

Native to

AL, AR, AZ, CT and 34 more states

Pollinators

bees, butterflies, beetles

Before you buy

Your city may pay you to plant this

Cities and water utilities offer rebates for replacing lawn with native and water-wise plants. We track 452 programs across 44 states, each with a link to the provider and the date we last checked it.

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Browse plants for this ecoregion

High Plains Southwestern Tablelands Central Great Plains Great Plains Cross Timbers Texas Blackland Prairies East Central Texas Plains South Central Plains Eastern Temperate Forests Ozark Highlands Central Irregular Plains Northwestern Glaciated Plains Northwestern Great Plains Piedmont Northern Glaciated Plains Western Corn Belt Plains Northern Lakes and Forests North Central Hardwood Forests Driftless Area Southeastern Wisconsin Till Plains Central Corn Belt Plains Eastern Corn Belt Plains Southern Michigan/Northern Indiana Drift Plains Huron/Erie Lake Plains Northeastern Highlands Northeastern Coastal Zone Northern Allegheny Plateau Erie Drift Plain Northern Forests Middle Atlantic Coastal Plain Northern Piedmont Southeastern Plains Blue Ridge Ridge and Valley Central Appalachians Western Allegheny Plateau Interior Plateau Interior River Valleys and Hills Mississippi Alluvial Plain Mississippi Valley Loess Plains Southern Coastal Plain Eastern Great Lakes Lowlands Atlantic Coastal Pine Barrens

Burvine is a tall, upright perennial that produces small white flowers in slender spikes from June through September. This native wildflower has a somewhat sparse, open growth habit and can reach up to 4 feet tall with narrow, toothed leaves.

Growing Burvine

Grow Burvine in part sun and medium water. Mature plants reach 24 to 48 inches tall and spread 12 to 24 inches wide. Expect low maintenance to keep it looking intentional in a front yard.

In an HOA neighborhood

Burvine takes more care to keep looking intentional in a front yard. Maintenance level: low. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.

Works well in: backyard only.

Tall, sparse growth appears weedy to many
Small inconspicuous flowers lack ornamental impact
Open structure doesn't provide neat garden appearance

Wildlife value

The long blooming period provides nectar for bees, butterflies, and beetles throughout the summer and fall. The extended flowering season makes it particularly valuable for late-season pollinators when other flowers are fading.

Common questions

When does Verbena urticifolia bloom?: White vervain typically blooms from June through September, producing slender spikes of small white flowers.
What pollinators visit Verbena urticifolia?: Bees, butterflies and beetles regularly visit the small flowers of white vervain for nectar and pollen.
What growing conditions suit Verbena urticifolia best?: It grows well in part sun with medium soil moisture, often along woodland edges, fields, and disturbed ground near streams or ditches.
Is Verbena urticifolia a woody plant?: No, it is a herbaceous forb that dies back to the ground each year and regrows from its roots or seed in spring.
Is Burvine HOA-friendly?: Burvine takes more care to look intentional in a front yard. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.

These answers were drafted with an AI model from this plant's data. Verify care details with a local expert.

Native range data from the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew). Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.

If something looks wrong

Common plant problems, and what to check first

These come up on almost any plant. Each guide lists the likely causes in the order they are worth ruling out, with one thing to check before you act on any of them, and links to the source it came from.

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