Stachytarpheta jamaicensis

Jamaican vervain, Blue porterweed, Brazilian tea

Message of the Flower

Spiritual Ascension in the Vital

The Mother’s Comment

It is more fanciful and less regular.

Colour

Deep blue to purple

Family

Verbenaceae

Cultivars

Not widely known for distinct cultivars

Flower Size

Small, typically around 0.3 to 0.5 inches

Flower Texture

Smooth

Number of Petals

Five, fused into a tube

Floral Symmetry

Bilateral

Fragrance of Flower

Not known for fragrance

Leaf Texture

Rough, slightly serrated

Leaf Arrangement

Opposite

Leaf Color

Green, sometimes with a purplish tinge

Structural Variation (Shrub or Tree)

Herbaceous shrub

Life Cycle

Perennial

Blooming Period

Throughout the year in tropical climate

Climate

Tropical and subtropical

Water Requirements

Moderate; drought-resistant once established

Soil Type

Adaptable, prefers well-drained soils

Temperature Ranges

Warm, frost-sensitive

Sun or Shade

Full sun to partial shade

Susceptibility to Insects and Diseases

Generally resistant; can occasionally suffer from aphids

Pollinators

Attracts butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds

Habitat

Native to the Caribbean and South America, commonly found in disturbed areas and along roadsides

Role in the Ecosystem

Provides nectar for a variety of pollinators

Ornamental

Used in gardens for its flowers and attractiveness to pollinators

Uses in Other Aspects of Life

Primarily ornamental and ecological

Endangered Status

Not listed as endangered