Search Fact Sheets Virginia Tech Dendrology

verbena Verbenaceae Lippia alba (Mill.) N.E. Br. ex Britton & P. Wilson Listen to the Latin Print a QR link to this factsheet symbol: LIAL
Leaf: Opposite or occasionally whorled, simple, evergreen, elliptical, serrated margins, to 1 1/2 inch long; upper surface shiny dark green with sunken veins, lower surface pale pubescent.
Flower: Species is monoecious; flowers purple to white, born on 1 inch spikes.
Fruit: A round or pear-shaped purple drupe borne on long spikes, individual fruits 1/8 inch long.
Twig: Pubescent, purple-brown to gray-brown, 4-angled.
Bark: Gray-brown.
Form: A straggling shrub to 5 feet.
 Looks like: desert lavender

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Additional Range Information: Lippia alba is native to North America. Range may be expanded by planting. Download the full-size PDF map.
External Links: USDA Plants Database
All material 2021 Virginia Tech Dept. of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation; Photos and text by: John Seiler, Edward Jensen, Alex Niemiera, and John Peterson; Silvics reprinted from Ag Handbook 654; range map source information