Does it need deadheading?

While not strictly necessary, a light trim mid-season encourages a fresh flush of blooms.

It is a short-lived perennial that often acts as an annual in colder climates.

Plant guide

Dakota mock vervain.

Glandularia bipinnatifida

Pronounced glan-dyoo-LAIR-ee-uh by-pin-nuh-TIF-ih-duh

Also known as Glandularia bipinnatifida, Dakota Mock Vervain, Dakota vervain, Glandularia bipinnatifida, Prairie Verbena

Verbena bipinnatifida — Photo by Sam Kieschnick (CC BY) via gbif

This lovely native wildflower brings a splash of purple to your garden. It is a tough plant that thrives in sunny spots and handles dry spells well. You will love how it attracts butterflies all season long.

At a glance

Care level: Easy
Plant type: Perennial wildflower
Light: Full sun
Indoor light: Direct sun
Water: Every 7 to 14 days
Mature size: 6 to 12 inches tall
Growth rate: Fast
Hardiness: USDA 6 to 10
Bloom time: Spring to fall

Care

Plant this in a spot with plenty of sun and well draining soil. Keep an eye out for powdery mildew if the air circulation gets poor. It is a resilient grower that rarely needs much fuss.

Watering: Water deeply once the top inch of soil feels dry to the touch.
Feeding: A light application of balanced fertilizer in spring is plenty.
Pruning: Trim back spent flower stems to encourage a fresh flush of blooms.
Repotting: Repot only if the plant becomes root bound in its container.
Soil: Well draining sandy or rocky soil
Soil pH: 6.0 to 7.5
Temperature: -20 to 35°C
Humidity: 30 to 70%
Drought tolerance: High
Lifespan: Short-lived perennial, typically 2 to 4 years.
Deer and rabbits: Moderate

Signs it needs repotting

Roots growing out of drainage holes
Water running straight through the pot
Stunted growth

Safety

People: The plant is generally considered non-toxic, but ingestion should be avoided.
Children: The plant is not known to be a significant hazard to children, but keep them from eating the foliage.
Contact allergens: The fine hairs on the stems can cause mild skin irritation in sensitive individuals.
Airborne allergens: Pollen may cause mild reactions in those with seasonal allergies.
Edibility: This plant is not intended for human consumption and may cause digestive upset.

How to identify it

Finely divided fern like leaves
Clusters of small lavender flowers
Low growing spreading habit
Hairy stems and foliage

Height: 0.15 to 0.3m
Spread: 0.3 to 0.6m
Leaves: green, deciduous
Flowers: purple, lavender, pink, 1 to 2cm
Fruit: brown, late summer

Problems to watch for

AphidsCommon
Powdery MildewCommon
Root RotUncommon
Spider MitesUncommon

By symptom

Plant problems by symptom

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Growing it

Propagation: seed, cuttings, division
When to plant: spring, fall
Overwintering: Cut back the foliage after the first hard frost. In colder regions, a light layer of mulch helps protect the crown.
In containers: It grows well in containers at least 25 cm deep, provided the soil is very well-draining.

Seed

1. Collect seeds in late summer.
2. Sow directly in well-draining soil in autumn.
3. Keep lightly moist until germination.

Cuttings

1. Take 10 cm stem cuttings in late spring.
2. Remove lower leaves.
3. Dip in rooting hormone.
4. Place in moist sand.
5. Keep in bright, indirect light.

Pair this plant with other drought-tolerant natives to minimize water usage in your garden beds.

Grows well with

Blanketflower · They share similar requirements for sun and dry soil.
Purple Coneflower · The height difference creates a nice layered look in the garden.

Similar species

Garden Verbena · It is a common garden hybrid with larger, more colorful flowers.

Science

Family: Verbenaceae
Genus: Verbena
Order: Lamiales
Class: Magnoliopsida
Native range: Central and southern United States into Mexico.
Conservation: It is a common native species and is not currently of conservation concern.

It survives in the wild by colonizing open, disturbed areas and rocky slopes with its spreading habit.

Value to wildlife: nectar source, larval host plant
Pollinators: bees, butterflies, moths
Uses: groundcover, pollinator garden, rock garden, container plant

Through the year

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Flowering

Fruiting

Foliage

Ecological indicators

Salinity: 2/9
Soil reaction: 6/9
Light: 8/9
Temperature: 6/9
Moisture: 3/9
Nutrients: 3/9

Taxonomy resolved against GBIF.

Questions people ask

Does it need deadheading?: While not strictly necessary, a light trim mid-season encourages a fresh flush of blooms.
Is it a perennial?: It is a short-lived perennial that often acts as an annual in colder climates.

Where the name comes from

The name Verbena is the classical Latin name for this group of plants, while bipinnatifida refers to the twice-divided, fern-like leaves.

Good to know

It is also known as Dakota mock vervain.
The plant is highly drought tolerant once established.
It often reblooms heavily after a light trim.
It is a favorite for xeriscaping projects.

Also in

Drought-tolerant plants

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This guide was generated with AI on September 26, 2026 and checked against GBIF taxonomy. It is general information, not horticultural or veterinary advice. Read about how we build these guides.