The Genus Glandularia
Verbena
Family: Verbenaceae
This is a genus of herbaceous plants native to open landscapes (deserts, grasslands) some species found in open areas in mountains. They are found throughout North America.
The taxonomy of this group is tricky and they are often included in the genus Verbena. Without getting too technical theres lots of evidence that they should be maintained in their own separate genus.
Glandularias are still commonly called verbena (the older genus name).
We mainly grow the native verbenas, but there are two non-natives in the trade: Glandularia pulchella (formerly known as Verbena tenuisecta) or rock verbena is a finely divided leafed perennial that is naturalizing in our region. Also available is Glandularia rigida (formerly known as Verbena rigida) sandpaper verbena. We only sell the native species.
Photo of Glandularia bipinnatifida by Anthony Mendoza, SEINET
Glandularia bipinnatifida
Dakota Verbena
Perennial plant growing about a foot tall and spreading about 2’. Plants reseed and volunteer about the landscape, sometimes forming small colonies. Light purple flowers appear mostly in spring. This species is distinguished from Glandularia gooddingii by the floral bracts being slightly longer than the calyx, and the herbage being hirsute, and not glandular. Generally this species is found at higher elevations than G. gooddingii.
Grow in full to part sun, with moderate water, hardy to -10° F. Plants reseed readily about the landscape, forming small colonies.
Larval food plant for the fine-lined sallow moth (Catabena lineolata), and the verbena moth (Crambodes talidiformis). The flowers are important nectar plants for butterflies, hummingbirds, bees, and other pollinators. Verbenas are often blooming with other things are not.
Leaves rubbed on snakebites; used to make a gargle for sore throat and as a life medicine.
Glandularia is from the Latin gland, probably referring to the glandular pubescence of many species, while bipinnatifida refers to the twice-pinnate leaves.
Found in rocky to sandy soils, in open woods, wash bottoms, and stream margins, from 2,000-10,000 ft. in South Dakota to Montana and Alabama, west to Colorado and Arizona; south into northern Mexico.
Glandularia gooddingii
Goodding’s Verbena
Perennial plant growing about a foot tall and spreading about 2’. Plants reseed and volunteer about the landscape, sometimes forming small colonies. Light purple flowers appear almost anytime of year. Distinguish from G. bipinnatifida by the floral bractlets which are slightly shorter than the calyces; the glands on the calyx; and the corolla tube only a little longer than the calyx (vs. 1.5 times longer in G. bipinnatifida). Generally this species is found at lower elevations than G. bipinnatifida.
Grow in full to part sun, with moderate water, hardy to 0° F.
Larval food plant for the fine-lined sallow moth (Catabena lineolata), and the verbena moth (Crambodes talidiformis). The flowers are important nectar plants for butterflies, hummingbirds, bees, and other pollinators. Verbenas are often blooming with other things are not.
Medicinally this plant acts as a sedative, diphoretic, diuretic, bitter tonic, and antispasmodic.
Glandularia is based in Latin and means full of glands, while gooddingii, is named for Leslie Newton Goodding (1880-1967) a botanist who explored southern Arizona.
Found on dry slopes below 5,000 ft. in southern California, southern Nevada, southern Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, Texas, Oklahoma and Alabama, south into central Mexico.