Fauna
Flower

Texas Vervain

Verbena halei

Also known as Texas Verbena, Slender Verbena

Texas vervain sends up stiff, square stems crowned with delicate spires of pale lavender or blue flowers from early spring into midsummer. Often overlooked until in full bloom, it thrives in disturbed fields, roadsides, and open pastures where its deep taproot withstands intense summer drought. The tiny tubular blossoms open sequentially from bottom to top along elongated spikes, offering a dependable nectar source for native bees and early-season butterflies.

WildflowerDrought-TolerantPollinator-Friendly
Texas Vervain reference1 / 7
(c) Clifton Ladd, C.W.B., some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
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Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & preyAutotrophic (photosynthesis)
Predators
  • Herbivorous insects
  • Grazing livestock
  • White-tailed deer
ThreatsHerbicide spraying, intensive mowing, and habitat loss
HabitatsPrairies, open woodlands, pastures, roadsides, and disturbed fields
Life span3–5 years
Classification
  1. OrderLamiales
  2. FamilyVerbenaceae
  3. GenusVerbena
  4. SpeciesVerbena halei
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskLow
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is low
Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
  • Pollinator spotting: Search the elongated flower spikes on sunny mornings to watch small native bees and skippers foraging.
  • Identification: Look for deeply lobed lower leaves that transition into narrow, lance-shaped leaves near the top of the stems.
  • Observation season: Check dry roadside margins and pasture edges between March and June when the blooming spikes are most conspicuous.
Related species
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