Uncultivated

Verbena bracteata 

Verbena imbricata, bigbract verbena, bracted vervain, carpet vervain, creeping vervain, prostrate verbena, prostrate vervain

Description: annual, biennial or perennial

Place of origin: North America

Urban habitat: pioneer species commonly found in disturbed sites, particularly in gravelly, sandy or rocky soils, along roadsides, raildroads; tolerates compacted soil.

Ecological function: disturbance-adapted colonizer of bare ground; food and habitat for wildlife.

History: Verbena bracteata was used by the Navajo tribe as a ceremonial medicine and to soothe centipede bites. Despite its native status in the U.S., it is often considered to be a weed and is not commonly cultivated.