The word "verbena" entered English directly from the Latin "verbēna," which referred to sacred foliage, particularly myrtle, olive, or laurel branches used in religious ceremonies. This Latin term is believed to be derived from a Proto-Indo-European root werbʰ- meaning "to turn, bend," possibly alluding to the flexible, pliant nature of the branches used for garlands. Over time, the application of the name shifted in botanical classification to its current use for a specific genus of flowering plants, the common vervain being its most notable member. Thus, the journey of the word reflects a transition from a ritual object in ancient Rome to a precise scientific and common name in modern botany.

The entire word "verbena" is a simplex loanword from Latin. It does not contain separable, productive morphemes within modern English spelling.