The Verbenaceae or Verbena family has been considered to be closely related to the Lamiaceae (Labiatae or mint family), and the border between the two families has long been unclear but characters tying these two families together are apparently convergent. Recent phylogenetic studies have shown several genera to be misplaced in Verbenaceae and these genera are being moved out of Verbenaceae into Lamiaceae. Avicennia, sometimes placed in Verbenaceae or in its own family, Avicenniaceae, has been placed in Acanthaceae. Meanwhile core Verbenaceae have proven to be more closely related to other members of the Lamiales s.l. than to Lamiaceae.

In its wider circumscription, Verbenaceae is a family of mainly tropical plants notable for heads, spikes, or clusters of small flowers. The family includes about 90 genera and nearly 2,000 species of trees, shrubs and herbs.

Economically important genera include:

Beautyberry Callicarpa species, cultivated in gardens
Lemon verbena Aloysia triphylla, grown for aroma or flavoring
Teak Tectona species, grown for lumber
Verbena or Vervain Verbena species, with medicinal uses.

馬鞭草科包括90余屬約2,000余種，主要分佈在全球的熱帶和亞熱帶地區，中國有21屬大約200種，多分佈在長江以南地區，北方也有一些種類。馬鞭草科和唇形科之間有時容易混淆，根據最近的基因鑒定，有幾個傳統屬於本科的屬已經划到唇形科。有的分類法將海欖雌屬單獨列為一科，或劃入爵床科。

本科植物大部分為木本也有草本，單葉對生；花兩性，花冠合瓣，合成鐘狀、杯狀或筒狀，也有二唇形的；果實為蒴果和核果。

本科柚木屬和石梓屬有些種類木材光澤美麗，是貴重的材用樹種，有些屬許多種類可供藥用，也有許多觀賞花卉種類。