About Verbena
Verbena, also known as vervain, is a long-blooming, heat-tolerant perennial or annual flower. Verbenas come in many colors and sizes; some grow up to 6 feet tall while other varieties are short ground covers that reach no higher than a foot. The tiny flowers are grouped into rounded clusters.
Where is the best place to plant verbena?
Grow verbenas in moderately fertile, well-drained soil in full sun. Low-growing and bedding varieties work well in bedding schemes and pots, while taller verbena varieties, including Verbena bonariensis and Verbena hastata, work well at the back of the border or in prairie-style planting schemes.
What is verbena good for?
Women use verbena for treating symptoms of menopause, irregular menstruation, and increasing milk flow, if breast-feeding. Some people apply verbena directly to the skin to treat poorly healing wounds, abscesses and burns; for arthritis, joint pain (rheumatism), dislocations, bone bruises (contusions), and itching.
Should verbena be cut back?
Trim Verbena in the spring to remove dead or overgrown sections. Verbena can be pruned throughout the growing season to maintain a consistent look. Do not cut back more than one-third of the plant. Verbena can recover from a slight trim, but removing more could stunt the growth.
Is a verbena an annual or perennial? – Related Questions
Do verbena come back every year?
Yes, all verbenas are perennial, but some are grown as annuals as they are not hardy in our climate and are so easy to propagate from cuttings or seed.
How do I winterize my verbena?
Overwintering
- Cut back the plant to less than half of its size.
- Find a container that leaves a couple of inches around the root ball and fill it with potting soil.
- Put the newly potted plant in the sunniest indoor spot you can find.
- As the last frost of spring approaches, prune back the plant to stimulate new growth.
Do you cut back verbena for winter?
Garden care: In cold conditions Verbena bonariensis can suffer dieback if cut back in autumn, so it’s best to leave the plant until spring and cut back the old growth when you see the new shoots emerging at the base.
Can verbena survive a freeze?
Answer: Lemon verbena is a tender perennial herb, which means that it will not withstand frost and low temperatures. It is often grown in a container so that it can be brought inside before the threat of frost. Lemon verbena is best grown in full sun, in a rich and moist soil.
Do I deadhead verbena?
Annual verbena can be deadheaded or trimmed periodically throughout the year to encourage fresh new growth and flowers.
What kills verbena?
Verbena (Verbena)
- Diseases caused by Fungi:
- Powdery mildew, Erysiphe cichoracearum. White powdery spots or patches develop on leaves and occasionally on stems.
- Gray mold, Botrytis cinerea.
- Diseases caused by Viruses:
- Spotted wilt, virus, Impatiens Necrotic Spot Virus (INSV).
- Aphids.
How long will verbena last?
Most verbenas are short-lived, so you should plan on replacing them after two or three years. However, some species can re-seed and naturalize in the garden. Verbenas, especially the trailing and moss types, grow very well in containers.
How do you keep verbena looking good?
VERBENA CARE
Although established plants are drought tolerant, they will do better with regular watering, especially container-grown plants. Also, make sure they have good drainage, whether in containers or garden beds, so the roots don’t sit in soggy soil.
Does verbena do better in pots or the ground?
Containers are great for Verbena, as established plants are somewhat drought-tolerant, and they like to dry out between watering.
How do you make verbena bushy?
Continue to lightly prune the tips of the plant throughout summer.
- You can do this about 2-3 times over the season or as needed.
- This is called tipping the plant. It can help the plant branch out, which will give you a fuller, bushier verbena plant instead of a sprawling or patchy plant.
Does verbena like lots of water?
Verbena thrives in a variety of soil conditions and don’t require much water, especially once established, but you will want to make sure the soil drains well. Additionally, avoid planting your verbena too closely together in order to keep them healthy and precent the spread of mildew.
Is verbena toxic to dogs?
If ingested, Verbena can cause a dog to experience depression, vomiting, diarrhea, and weakness. The amount of the plant ingested will determine the extent of the symptoms, so if a dog were to eat a large quantity, then the symptoms would be worse.
Do verbena attract bugs?
Verbenas attract butterflies and produce clusters of small, tube-like flowers with 5 petals, generally in the summer. Flower colors include purple, white, pink, red, and blue.
Does verbena multiply?
Verbena can be propagated both by cuttings and by seed. If you want to be sure you get a genetic copy of the parent plant, you should grow from cuttings, as verbena seeds don’t always grow true to type.
Is verbena invasive?
Verbena bonariensis (Tall Verbena) is listed in the Invasive Plant Atlas of the United States. According to the U.S Forest Service, Invasive species have contributed to the decline of 42% of U.S. endangered and threatened species, and for 18% of U.S. endangered or threatened species.
What do verbena attract?
Verbenas attract butterflies and produce clusters of small, tube-like flowers with 5 petals, generally in the summer. Flower colors include purple, white, pink, red, and blue.
