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Botanical name: Verbena bonariensis
Tall Verbena features airy clusters of purple flowers with pink overtones at the ends of the stems from early summer to late fall, which emerge from distinctive fuchsia flower buds. The flowers are excellent for cutting. Its narrow leaves remain green in color throughout the season. The fruit is not ornamentally significant..
Other names: Brazilian Verbena, Vervain
| Hardiness zone | 5a |
|---|---|
| Flower color | purple |
| Foliage type | deciduous * |
| Plant form | upright spreading |
| Mature height | 24 inches (4 feet with the flowers) |
| Spread | 24 inches |
| Light requirements | full sun |
| Moisture requirements | dry to moist |
| Plant origin | import |
* deciduous = loses leaves in winter
Tall Verbena features airy clusters of purple flowers with pink overtones at the ends of the stems from early summer to late fall, which emerge from distinctive fuchsia flower buds. The flowers are excellent for cutting. Its narrow leaves remain green in color throughout the season. The fruit is not ornamentally significant.
Tall Verbena is an open herbaceous perennial with an upright spreading habit of growth. It brings an extremely fine and delicate texture to the garden composition and should be used to full effect.
This plant will require occasional maintenance and upkeep, and should be cut back in late fall in preparation for winter. It is a good choice for attracting butterflies to your yard. Gardeners should be aware of the following characteristic(s) that may warrant special consideration;
Disease, Self-Seeding
Tall Verbena is recommended for the following landscape applications;
Mass Planting, General Garden Use, Container Planting
Tall Verbena will grow to be about 24 inches tall at maturity extending to 4 feet tall with the flowers, with a spread of 24 inches. When grown in masses or used as a bedding plant, individual plants should be spaced approximately 18 inches apart. It tends to be leggy, with a typical clearance of 1 foot from the ground, and should be underplanted with lower-growing perennials. It grows at a fast rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 5 years.
This plant should only be grown in full sunlight. It is very adaptable to both dry and moist locations, and should do just fine under typical garden conditions. It is not particular as to soil type or pH. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution, and will benefit from being planted in a relatively sheltered location. Consider applying a thick mulch around the root zone in winter to protect it in exposed locations or colder microclimates. This species is not originally from North America.
Tall Verbena is a fine choice for the garden, but it is also a good selection for planting in outdoor pots and containers. With its upright habit of growth, it is best suited for use as a 'thriller' in the 'spiller-thriller-filler' container combination; plant it near the center of the pot, surrounded by smaller plants and those that spill over the edges. It is even sizeable enough that it can be grown alone in a suitable container. Note that when growing plants in outdoor containers and baskets, they may require more frequent waterings than they would in the yard or garden.
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