Verbena

Verbena is a genus of flowering plants in the family Verbenaceae, native mainly to the Americas. Its species bear clusters of small flowers and include popular garden plants.

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Verbenaceae: A family of flowering plants that includes verbena and other herbs, shrubs, and trees. Verbena belongs to this family, whose varied members share characteristic floral structures.
Garden verbena: A group of cultivated verbenas grown for colorful, long-lasting flower clusters. These plants are the genus’s most visible presence in gardens and containers.
Carl Linnaeus: A Swedish botanist who established the binomial system for naming species and formalized modern biological classification. Linnaeus published the botanical name Verbena in the modern system of plant nomenclature.
Lemon verbena: A fragrant South American shrub, Aloysia citrodora, in the family Verbenaceae but not the genus Verbena. Despite its common name and family relationship, lemon verbena belongs to another genus.
Lamiales: An order of flowering plants that includes Verbenaceae, mint, sage, and many other families. This broader order places verbena among plants with related evolutionary histories.
Verbena × hybrida: A group of cultivated hybrid verbenas valued for abundant flowers in varied colors. Its garden forms account for many plants sold simply as verbena.
Botanical nomenclature: The formal system for naming plants, governed by internationally agreed rules. The accepted name Verbena and its species names follow this system’s rules.
Vervain: A common name used for Verbena officinalis and, more broadly, for plants in the genus Verbena. The name vervain often denotes verbena, but its usage can vary by species and region.
Verbena bonariensis: A tall South American verbena with slender stems and small purple flower clusters. This widely grown species shows the genus’s characteristic flowers on unusually tall stems.
Verbena bonariensis in horticulture: The cultivation of Verbena bonariensis as a tall, airy ornamental perennial. Gardeners use its open structure to add height without obscuring nearby plants.