It is native to the southwestern United States and northern Mexico, where it occurs in many types of open, dry habitat such as desert scrub.

This perennial herb produces one or more rough-haired, erect stems up to about 75 centimeters in maximum height.

The hairy leaves are a few centimeters long and are divided near the base into a few narrow lobes which have serrated edges.

The inflorescence is made up of one to three narrow, erect spikes of flowers up to 30 centimeters long.

As of December 2024[update], the conservation group NatureServe listed Verbena menthifolia as Secure (G5) worldwide.