Shop by Essence: Verbena

Verbena (verbenas or vervains) is a genus in the family Verbenaceae. It contains about 250 species of annual and perennial herbaceous or semi-woody flowering plants. The majority of the species are native to the New World from Canada south to southern Chile, but some are also native in the Old World, mainly in Europe. These include Common Vervain (V. officinalis) and V. supina. Verbena has long been associated with divine and other supernatural forces. It was called “tears of Isis“ in Ancient Egypt, and later on “Juno΄s tears“. In Ancient Greece, it was dedicated to Eos Erigineia. In the early Christian era, folk legend stated that Common Vervain (V. officinalis) was used to staunch Jesus΄ wounds after his removal from the cross. It was consequently called “Holy Herb“ or (e.g. in Wales) “Devil΄s bane“