Blue Vervain (Hyssop) Flower Seeds
The
Blue Vervain Is a perennial herb native to North America. It can be found growing along the road and in fields all around the United States and Canada.
Vervain is derived from the celtic word ferfaen, from fer (to drive away) and faen (a stone). The plant was frequently used for affections of the bladder. The plant is also called
Herba Sacra from its use by priests during sacrifices. In classic Rome, the name
Verbena was given to “alter plants” (plants used in rites, incarnations, and employed by magicians and sorcerers) in general.
Blue Vervain flowers are 5 petaled and a pale-lilac color. The flowers grow along numerous spikes and bloom from June to September. This plant grows best in a sunny location in moderately fertile, well-drained soil.
It is best to sow these seeds in early Spring.
This flower is edible and thought to have medicinal value. It is very popular in Native American culture as a food and medicine. The plant grows erect to 2-3 feet tall with square stems. The leaves are serrate with short stalks.
If you want to use the flowers as an Herb, gather the entire plant, just before the flowers open, and hang to dry.
The seeds can also be collected after the flowers fade and used for roasting. Native American cultures roast the seeds, ground them into a powder and use it as a piñole (an Indian flour).
The leaves and roots of the
Blue Vervain are used in alternative medicine as an antidiarrheal, analgesic, antiperiodic, astringent, diaphoretic, emetic, sedative, expectorant, tonic. They are also thought ot be useful for fevers, ulcers, pleurisy, scrofula, gravel, insomnia, nervous conditions, headaches, rheumatism, increasing breast milk production, easing bowel pain and expelling worms.
Recent medical research has detected the presents of adenosine, aucubin, beta-carotene, caffeic-acid, citral, hastatoside, lupeol, ursolic-acid, verbenalin, verbenin, and other chemical constituents in this plant.
Also available:
Vervain Seeds
Echinacea Seeds
Wildflower Seeds
Butterfly Flower Garden Starter Kit
