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Native Plant Society of Texas

Prairie Verbena

Glandularia bipinnatifida

Other common name(s):

Dakota Mock Vervain

Family:

Verbenaceae (Verbena Family)

Plant Ecoregion Distribution Map

This map uses data from the US EPA. EPA  servers have been offline frequently so maps may not display. We are working on a solution.

Central Great Plains, Chihuahuan Deserts, Cross Timbers, East Central Texas Plains, Edwards Plateau, Gulf Coast Prairies and Marshes, High Plains, Southern Texas Plains, Southwestern Tablelands, Texas Blackland Prairies
Broken Red Plains, Limestone Plains, Red Prairie
Stockton Plateau
Carbonate Cross Timbers, Eastern Cross Timbers, Grand Prairie, Limestone Cut Plain, Western Cross Timbers
Bastrop Lost Pines, Floodplains and Low Terraces2, Northern Post Oak Savanna, Northern Prairie Outliers, San Antonio Prairie, Southern Post Oak Savanna
Balcones Canyonlands, Edwards Plateau Woodland, Llano Uplift, Semiarid Edwards Plateau
Northern Humid Gulf Coastal Prairies
Canadian/Cimarron High Plains
Northern Nueces Alluvial Plains, Semiarid Edwards Bajada, Texas-Tamaulipan Thornscrub
Canadian/Cimarron Breaks, Caprock Canyons Badlands Breaks, Flat Tablelands and Valleys, Semiarid Canadian Breaks
Floodplains and Low Terraces1, Northern Blackland Prairie, Southern Blackland Prairie

Plant Characteristics

Growth Form

Herbaceous

Height

0.5
to
1
ft.

Spread

1
to
2
ft.

Leaf Retention

Semi Evergreen

Lifespan

Perennial

Habitat and Care Requirements

Soil Type(s)

Sand, Loam, Clay, Limestone, Caliche, Well Drained, Moist, Dry

Light Requirement

Sun, Part Shade

Water Requirement

Low, Medium

Native Habitat

Grassland

Bloom and Attraction

Bloom Color

Purple

Bloom Season

Spring, Summer, Fall

Seasonal Interest

Seeds, Nectar, Pollen

Wildlife Benefit

Butterflies, Birds, Nectar Insects

Maintenance

Annual or short-lived perennial. Widespread throughout Texas. Often forms brilliant displays of pink or light purple, covering acres of ground. Sensitive to freeze, but re-seeds easily. Can be grown in container gardens and hanging baskets. Propagation: seed, cutting, transplant offshoots.

Comments

Blooms March-October. Upright to sprawling form. Rounded clusters of five-lobed, tubular flowers atop stems. Leaves are highly divided and pubescent. Fruit a many-chambered capsule called a schizocarp.
Previous Scientific Name(s): Verbena bipinnatifida

References

Learn about how to propagate Texas native plants.

Material Treatment Method Collection References
Seed No Treatment Prepare a well-draining soil mix, typically a blend of standard potting soil and sand or perlite to enhance aeration and drainage. Sow the seeds evenly across the surface of the soil mix, lightly pressing them in, but do not cover them completely as they require light for germination. Moisten the soil carefully using a fine mist spray to avoid displacing the seeds. Maintain consistent moisture levels without saturating the soil. Place the seed tray in a warm, well-lit area, but out of direct sunlight. Maintain a temperature around 70°F (21°C) to encourage germination, which typically occurs within 2-3 weeks. Collect the nutlets in summer and fall when they separate into fours. 1) https://openprairie.sdstate.edu/nativeplant/197/#:~:text=Seed%20collection:%20Collect%20the%20nutlets,Mesic%20to%20dry%2C%20drought%20tolerant. 2) https://www.picturethisai.com/care/propagate/Glandularia_bipinnatifida_var._latilobata.html
Stem Cutting Mature plants produce rooted starts from stems. Two-inch tip cuttings should be treated with a 1:10 liquid rooting hormone. Place under intermittent mist for approximately 8 days. After root initiation occurs remove from mist and keep soil evenly moist until rooting has finished. Cuttings can be harvested any time plant is actively growing. Remove inflorescence from cutting material. 1) https://openprairie.sdstate.edu/nativeplant/197/#:~:text=Seed%20collection:%20Collect%20the%20nutlets,Mesic%20to%20dry%2C%20drought%20tolerant. 2) https://plantselect.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Verbena-bipinnatifida.pdf

About the Region

Fall Symposium 2025 Logo - Teach for the Future

Salado, the location of our Fall 2025 Symposium, lies at the intersection of two ecoregions: the Edwards Plateau (Limestone Cut Plain) and Blackland Prairie (Northern Blackland Prairie).

The Edwards Plateau area is also called the Hill Country; however, this general term covers a much larger area extending farther north. Spring-fed creeks are found throughout the region; deep limestone canyons, rivers, and lakes (reservoirs) are common. Ashe juniper is perhaps the most common woody species found throughout the region. Additional woody species include various species of oak, with live oak (Quercus fusiformis) being the most common. Sycamores (Platanus occidentalis) and bald cypress (Taxodium distichum) border waterways. This area is well known for its spring wildflower displays, though they may be viewed in spring, late summer, and fall, as well. According to Texas Parks and Wildlife, average annual rainfall in the Edwards Plateau ranges from 15 to 34 inches.

The Blackland Prairie extends from the Red River south to San Antonio, bordered on the west by the Edwards Plateau and the Cross Timbers, and on the east by the Post Oak Savannah. Annual rainfall averages 30 to 40 inches, with higher averages to the east. This region is dominated by prairie species. The most common grass species include little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) and Indian grass (Sorghastrum nutans) in the uplands and switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) in the riparian areas and drainages. Common herbaceous flowering plants include salvias, penstemons, and silphiums. This area has suffered greatly from overgrazing and agricultural use. Few intact areas remain, though many of the plants can be found along county roadsides throughout the region.

Our fall Symposium host chapter, the Tonkawa Chapter, includes both of these ecoregions.

Source: Wildflowers of Texas by Michael Eason