[4] Verbena is a herbaceous flowering plant, belonging to the Verbenaceae family, and may be annual or perennial depending on the species.

It seems that verbena as well as the related mock vervains (Glandularia) evolved from the assemblage provisionally treated under the genus name Junellia; both other genera were usually included in the Verbenaceae until the 1990s.

[6] Intergeneric chloroplast gene transfer by an undetermined mechanism – though probably not hybridization – has occurred at least twice from vervains to Glandularia, between the ancestors of the present-day South American lineages and once more recently, between V. orcuttiana or V. hastata and G. bipinnatifida.

The hybrid cultivars "Silver Anne"[9] and "Sissinghurst"[10] have gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.

[11] Verbena has been listed as one of the 38 plants used to prepare Bach flower remedies,[12] a kind of alternative medicine promoted for its effect on health.

Considered inferior[14] to oil of lemon verbena (Aloysia citrodora) in perfumery,[11] it is of some commercial importance for herbalism.

[non-primary source needed] Nulla tamen Romae nobilitatis plus habet quam hiera botane.

haec est quam legatos ferre ad hostes indicavimus; hac Iovis mensa verritur, domus purgantur lustranturque.

In the early Christian era, folk legend stated that V. officinalis was used to stanch Jesus' wounds after his removal from the cross.

[20] According to the Wiccan writer Doreen Valiente, Vervain flowers signify the goddess Diana and are often depicted on cimaruta, traditional Italian amulets.

[24] While common vervain is not native to North America, it has been introduced there; for example, the Pawnee have adopted it as an entheogen enhancer and in oneiromancy (dream divination), much as Calea zacatechichi is used in Mexico.