Verbenaceae : Glandularia bipinnatifida
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Family Name
Verbenaceae
Common Name
Dakota mock vervain, Prairie verbena
Description
Glandularia bipinnatifida is a prostrate to ascending, mat-forming, short-lived perennial herb growing from a somewhat woody, branched base, with stems up to 60 cm long, moderately to densely covered with bristly hairs. The stems occasionally rooting from the lower nodes. The petiolate leaves are opposite, 1-6 cm long, 3-parted to compound bipinnate, with stiff appressed hairs on both surfaces and rolled margins. The inflorescence consists of flattened spikes 1-20 cm long, on peduncles originating at the ends of branches. The tubular calyx is green, 7-10 mm long, with 5 unequal lobes, 1-4 mm long. The pink to purple corolla tube is about 1.5 times the length of the calyx, covered with hairs on the outside, with reflexed, notched limbs, 7-10 mm wide. The fruit are nutlets, 4-seeded, 2-3 mm long. Dakota mock vervain blooms from May into October on dry plains, prairies and along roadsides in the southern counties in South Dakota.
Synonym: Verbena bipinnatifida
Horticulture Notes
Seed collection: Collect the nutlets in summer and fall when they separate into fours.
Germination: The plants can be started in the greenhouse but fall sowing yields good results.
Vegetative propagation: Mature plants produce rooted starts from stems and dropped seeds that can be transplanted in the spring.
Light: Full sun for 6 or more hours per day.
Soil: Well drained sands to clays.
Water: Mesic to dry, drought tolerant.
Additional Notes
Prairie verbena provides much color and texture to a rock garden or prairie planting. Although low growing, its lasting floral display makes it quite showy. The flowers provide a nectar source for butterflies and bees. This species is short-lived but will reseed itself.