verbena

noun

ver·​be·​na (ˌ)vər-ˈbē-nə How to pronounce verbena (audio)
: vervain
especially : any of numerous garden vervains of hybrid origin widely grown for their showy spikes of white, pink, red, or blue flowers which are borne in profusion over a long season compare lemon verbena

Examples of verbena in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The dinner started with a salad made with radishes, carrots, broad beans, stracciatella and verbena oil. Stephanie Petit, Peoplemag, 25 Aug. 2023 There are also a few types of annuals that fall into this group including snapdragon, angelonia, lantana, annual salvias, and verbena. Chris McKeown, The Enquirer, 19 Aug. 2023 Lemon verbena, also called lemon beebrush, grows best in full sun, planted in rich, moist soil. Abby Wilson, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 July 2023 For warm weather, switch to lantana, verbena, begonias, angelonia, impatiens, coleus, sweet potato vine, fanflower, narrowleaf zinnia, and Wave petunia. Steve Bender, Southern Living, 16 Sep. 2022 In fact, more than 10,000 plants bloom in May, followed by rows of iris, lavender, jasmine, fig trees, verbena, rosemary, and other flowers and aromatic herbs that perfume the land for nine months of the year. ELLE Decor, 18 July 2023 Maison Francis Kurkdjian Aqua Media Cologne Forte, $235 (70 ml); nordstrom.com Maison Francis Kurkdjian is a master at making unique scents like this innovative aroma which has notes of bergamot, verbena, sweet fennel and a woody musk accord. Jackie Fields, Peoplemag, 22 June 2023 Pink and red ivy geraniums, dark red calibrachoa, and purple Lanai verbena are spillers. Southern Living Editors, Southern Living, 16 June 2023 The slanting light from the late afternoon sun framed an abundance of flowers: burgundy, maroon and hot pink dahlias, salvias, verbena, blue sage and magenta sedums. Catie Marron, Washington Post, 14 June 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'verbena.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from New Latin Verbena, a plant genus, going back to Medieval Latin verbēna "the plant Verbena officinalis," going back to Latin, "leafy branch used ceremonially or medicinally" — more at vervain

First Known Use

1562, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of verbena was in 1562

Dictionary Entries Near verbena

Cite this Entry

“Verbena.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/verbena. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

verbena

noun
ver·​be·​na (ˌ)vər-ˈbē-nə How to pronounce verbena (audio)
: any of a genus of numerous plants including some that are often grown in gardens for their showy spikes of white, pink, red, or blue flowers

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