verbena

noun

ver·​be·​na (ˌ)vər-ˈbē-nə 

: 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

Bright notes of lemon, sweet orange, and bergamot are softened by lavender and verbena, giving the citrus opening a more rounded, aromatic quality. — Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 3 Sep. 2026

As the scent develops, notes of vetiver and cedarwood add a woody complexity, especially when paired with the citrus-herbal verbena heart. — Kara Nesvig, Allure, 12 Aug. 2026

This mix is sweet potato vine, white alyssum, peach verbena, silver spurflower, purple petunias, white scaevolas, and angelonia. — Teresa Woodard, Midwest Living, 12 Aug. 2026

Blooming in small flower clusters, verbena, or vervain, are available in white, pink, blue, purple, yellow, red, and bicolor varieties. — Steve Bender, Southern Living, 7 July 2026

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

Phrases Containing verbena

• lemon verbena
• sand verbena

Rhymes for verbena

• arena
• athena
• cantina
• carina
• carmina
• catena
• czarina
• domina
• farina
• galena
• glossina
• hyena

Kids Definition

verbena

noun

ver·​be·​na (ˌ)vər-ˈbē-nə 

: 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