Blue Porterweed or Jamaica Vervain, variation of Snakeweed

Description:

Blue Porterweed has small violet purple flowers with sweet nectar that attracts many types of butterflies. In colder zones it can be grown as a self sowing annual, or as a perennial in zones 9-11. These grow to about 4' high and they do drop a lot of seeds.

Habitat:

Spotted at Niagara parks Butterfly Conservatory, Ontario, Canada

Notes:

Throughout the Caribbean, and in Florida, these plants are commonly called «porterweeds» in reference to the medicinal properties bestowed upon them. A foaming, porter-like brew, much like beer, is made from at least one species in the Bahamas. This concoction is used as a drink for fever, for "the cooling of the blood," as a wash for skin irritations, to relieve constipation and for worms in children.