Vervain (Verbena officinalis) is a perennial, lowland herb which is found in open habitats and prefers calcareous soil. The New Atlas of British and Irish Flora (2002) reported ‘substantial losses’ in East Anglia since the 1962 edition. The same source tells us that the plant has been associated with human settlements since Neolithic times and was widely cultivated in medieval gardens. This plant was once regarded as a panacea, a cure for every ill, including the plague. Modern herbalists regard it principally as a nervine. We often use it, and find it effective, in prescriptions for patients suffering from stress, depression and anxiety. It is a rather bitter herb and is not closely related to the Lemon Verbena (Lippia citrodora). Vervain has thrived in my own garden since I planted it there in 2003. It spreads easily by seed. Richard Mabey describes it as ‘rather scrawny and nondescript’ and it is, I suppose, less attractive than its cultivated relatives. However, I think that its delicate mauve flower spikes (June-September) have a certain beauty.