Verbena

( ver - BEE - nuh )

At-A-Glance Information

This genus of perennials (some species grown as annuals), needs full sun and varying water needs. They are commonly known as Vervain or Verveine, and their flowers will attract butterflies to your garden. They have showy flowers that bloom in summertime, and many species are used as groundcovers. They are best in hot weather, and are also good when grown in hanging baskets or trailing out of containers. Take care when planting Verbena in the garden, as plant parts can be toxic to cats if ingested.

Verbena Species and Varietals

The genus Verbena is a member of the plant family Verbenaceae, and includes between 150 species. It is a closely related genus to Aloysia and Junellia, which both contain species formerly placed in the Verbena genus. Verbena growing zones vary depending on the species; for more information, read the descriptions below. To find your zone, click here: Zone Map.

Verbena aristigera (Glandularia aristigera, Verbena tenuisecta) (Moss Verbena, Desert Verbena, Fine Leafed Verbena, Wild Verbena, Tuber Vervain, South American Mock Vervain, Mayne's Curse, Mayne's Pest)
This species of Verbena is native to Bolivia, southern Brazil, and northern Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay. It produces bright pink to purple flowers in spring and summertime. Plants reach between 8 inches and a foot tall when in bloom.

Verbena bipinnatifida (Dakota Mock Vervain, Pairie Verbena, Moradilla)
This perennial grows well in zones 1-24 and is native to the western Great Plains south to Mexico. It reaches 8-16 inches tall and 1.5 feet wide. Leaves are finely divided and flowers are blue. This species will self-sow freely and needs little water. Variety 'Valley Lavender' (pictured) reaches 3-6 inches tall and blooms over a long flowering period in bright lavender.

Verbena bonariensis (Purpletop Vervain, Clustertop Vervain, Argentinean Vervain, Tall Verbena, Pretty Verbena, South American Vervain, Brazilian Vervain)
This perennial grows well in zones 8-24 and is grown as an annual in cooler climates. They are native to South America and has naturalized itself in California. It reaches 3-6 feet tall and 1.5-3 feet wide, and has a branching, airy habit. Flowers are purple, it will self sow freely, and it needs little water. Useful as a foreground or background plant due to its airy quality.

Verbena bracteata (Bracted Vervain, Bigbract Verbena, Prostrate Vervain, Carpet Vervain)
This species is native to North America, and typically blooms between the months of May and October. They can be biennial or annual plants depending on the climate they are grown in, and produce small blue-purple to lavender-colored flowers. Individual plants reach 2 feet wide and between 1 and 20 inches tall.

Verbena brasiliensis (Brazilian Verbena, Brazilian Vervain)
These plants, native to South America (mainly Brazil), are known as invasive weeds in a number of areas around the globe. They form erect plants with stiff flowering stems that support heads of lavender-colored flowers. Leaves are green, as are stems.

Verbena californica (California Vervain, Red Hills Vervain)
These plants are endemic to Tuolumne County, where they prefer to grow in moist woodland habitats, and produce green foliage and tiny purple flowers borne in spike inflorescences. This species is considered threatened with extinction due to habitat loss.

Verbena canadensis (Glandularia canadensis) (Rose Mock Vervain, Rose Verbena, Clump Verbena, Rose Vervain, Trailing Verbena)
These perennials are native to eastern and south-central areas of the United States, and is widely cultivated elsewhere as a garden ornamental. Leaves are semi-evergreen, dark green above and light green below. Flowers range from pink to purple shades, and bloom in springtime, persisting until fall.

Verbena chiricahensis (Chiricahua Mountain Mock Vervain, Chiricahua Vervain)
These perennials reach up to 30 inches tall and produce clusters of pink to purple-pink flowers in spring and summertime. This species is native to Arizona, New Mexico, and Mexico, where it grows amongst high mountain ranges.

Verbena gooddingii (Southwest Mock Vervain)
This species is a short-lived perennial and grows in zones 7-24. It is native to the desert areas of the Southwestern United States and reaches 1.5-2 feet tall and 3-4 feet wide. Flowers are pink-lavender and the plant can reseed; it needs little to moderate water. It will bloom in the first summer from seed.

Verbena hybrids (Verbena x hybrida, Verbena x hortensis) (Garden Verbena)
This short-lived perennial grows best in zones 8-24, H1 and H2, and is often grown as an annual. It reaches 6-12 inches tall and 1.5-3 feet, and leaves can be green or greyish-green. Blooms come in white, pink, red, purple, blue and multicolored. Varieties included in this group are listed below. The first four strains described are usually perennials in zones 4-9, 12-24, H1 and H2 or can be grown as an annual anywhere. They are resistant to powdery mildew, bloom freely and are heat tolerant, coming in a variety of colors. All varieties need regular water for best performance.

'Aztec Strain'

'Superbena'

'Temari'

'Tapien'
With pink flowers and ferny green foliage.

'Homestead Purple'
Perennial in zones 2-24, annual elsewhere. 1-2 feet tall, 2-3 feet wide. Disease resistant.

'Sissinghurst'
Perennial in zones 3-24 and reaches a few inches tall and 4 feet wide. Flowers are bright red.

Verbena lilacina (Cedros Island Verbena)
This species is a perennial and grows in zones 12-24; it is native to Baja California. Reaching 1 foot tall and 3 feet wide or more. Leaves are light green and flowers are lilac, blooming from spring to fall. It is a great groundcover for hot, dry areas. It needs little to moderate water. Variety 'De La Mina' reaches 3 feet tall and wide, and has dark purple flowers.

Verbena menthifolia (Mint-Leaved Vervain, Mint Vervain)
This species is native to the southwestern United States and northern Mexico where it grows in dry habitats. Leaves are green and serrated, and flowers are borne on narrow, erect spikes up to a foot tall. Blooms are purple.

Verbena officinalis (Common Vervain, Common Verbena, Simpler's Joy, Holy Herb, Mosquito Plant, Wild Hyssop, European Vervain)
This species is native to Europe, and is a perennial. It reaches up to 30 inches tall when mature and in bloom. Leaves are lobed and toothed, and flowers are mauve in color. This species has a long history of being used in herbal medicine practices.

Verbena peruviana (Verbena chamaedrifolia) (Peruvian Mock Vervain)
This grows as a perennial in zones 8-24 and is treated as an annual in all zones. They are native to South America and form flat mats that spread rapidly via runners. Set 2 feet apart for best coverage. Leaves are dark green, and flowers are scarlet and white. They need moderate water.

Verbena rigida (Verbena venosa) (Slender Vervain, Tuberous Vervain)
Best in zones 3-24; this low-growing perennial is native to South America and has a spreading habit. Reaches 1-2 feet tall and 3-4 feet wide, with dark green leaves and lilac to purple-blue flowers that bloom in summer and fall. They need regular to moderate water to perform well. Compact variety 'Flame' reaches 4 inches tall and has bright scarlet flowers.

Verbena stricta (Hoary Vervain, Hoary Verbena)
This perennial grows best in zones 2-24 and is native to Massachusetts to Montana, down to Mexico. Has an upright habit and reaches 3 feet tall and 1.5 feet wide. Foliage and flowers are hairy, and leaves are medium green on top, white underneath. Blooms are lavender to purple and the plant needs regular water.

Verbena tenuisecta (Verbena pulchella graciliator) (Moss Verbena)
This spreading perennial species is native to South America and grows best in zones 7-9 and 14-24 (though it can be grown as an annual elsewhere). Reaches 6-12 inches tall and 2-5 feet wide and has deep green leaves. Flowers are blue, purple or violet. This species needs moderate water for best performance and flowering. Variety 'Alba' has white flowers.

Caring for Verbena

Verbena, or Vervain, can be purchased as starts from a reputable nursery or seed can be direct-sown into prepared garden beds. Grow Verbena in a space in the landscape that receives full sun; ideally they like to get between 6 and 8 hours of sun for best flowering. They like soil that is well-draining, moderately fertile, and that has a pH of between 6.0 and 7.5 (slightly acidic to slightly alkaline). If local soils are particularly poor in nutrients or do not drain well, make sure to amend the planting area with plenty of organic compost before installing. Apply a layer of mulch around the planting area to suppress weed growth, maintain consistent soil temperatures, and to increase soil moisture retention. Water new plantings regularly as they establish a strong root system in their new home. At maturity, Verbena plants like to receive regular waterings so that their soil stays consistently moist but not waterlogged. As a general rule of thumb, water whenever the top two inches of soil feels dry to the touch.

Fertilize yearly in early springtime with an application of 2 inches of compost around the base of plants. Pull mulch back before applying, work the compost gently into the soil a bit, water it in, and then replace mulch. These plants are not heavy feeders, and this should be sufficient to provide the necessary nutrients for the active growing and flowering seasons. Pruning is simple; remove any damaged, diseased, or dead foliage at any time during the growing season, and remove spent flower spikes to neaten up the appearance of plants and encourage reblooms. Every few years, especially if these plants are grown in a cramped border or container, they will need to be divided to maintain their health. For instructions on how to successfully divide Verbena plants, see the Propagation section below.

Propagation

Verbena, or Vervain, can be propagated by cutting, division or seed. To ensure that your propagated plant will have the exact same qualities and characteristics as the parent plant, use the cutting or division methods. If you would like to experiment and see what plant you can grow from seed, just keep in mind that it will not necessarily be the same as the parent plant, especially if you are propagating a hybrid cultivar. To propagate your Verbena flowers, follow the instructions below:

Propagating Verbena by Seed

Keep in mind that the plant you get from seed will not necessarily mimic all of the characteristics of the parent plant. To propagate by seed, you will need a paper bag, a pot or tray filled with well-draining compost or other organic material, a spray bottle and a fork. If you don't have any potting medium on hand, you can make some. Just mix together equal parts (by volume) moss peat and horticultural-grade sand or grit sand. You will also, after a few weeks, need individual 3-inch pots for each seedling that grows.
Harvest your seeds. The seed heads on plants are pretty easy to spot, they're left behind after flowers have faded. Once they have dried out and begun to split open, you can harvest the seeds inside. Cut them off of the plant, placing them in a paper bag. Harvest as many as you can, and place the paper bag in a dry, cool, dark area. They will continue to split open and release the seeds contained inside. Once they have been released, take them out of the bag and put them in a container so you can work with them.
Get your container prepared. Water your prepared seed tray or pot filled with soil, and ensure that good drainage is occurring. Place your seeds in your prepared pot or seed tray about a quarter inch to a half-inch under the soil surface. Cover them with soil and water with your spray bottle. Place your tray of seeds in a warm area that receives bright, indirect light. A greenhouse is the most ideal climate, but a planting tray inside a window will do as well. Germination usually takes 2-6 weeks from sowing. Once you begin to see seedlings sprout and they are able to be handled, transplant them to their own individual 3-inch pots, filled with the same potting medium as described in Step 1. Loosen the seedlings from the potting medium by digging down with the tines of your fork about an inch and a half, gently working the seedling up until it is out. Then, replant the seedling in its individual pot.
Keep the seedling's potting medium moist, but not wet, by spraying the soil with your spray bottle. Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 65 and 72 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring (after the danger of frost has passed), when you can transplant it to its new home. Alternatively, Verbena seeds can be direct-sown into the garden bed in springtime after the last threat of frost has passed by.

Propagating Verbena by Cutting

Gather your materials. You'll need a clean, sanitized, sharp pair of garden shears, rooting hormone, a pencil, and a 3-inch pot filled with well-draining compost or other organic material. If you don't have any potting medium on hand, you can make some. Just mix together equal parts (by volume) moss peat and horticultural-grade sand or grit sand.
In early summertime, choose the plant that you'd like to propagate. Ensure that this plant has had a good watering the night before, as this will improve the chances your cutting will take root. Cut one or more 3-4 inch portion(s) of the end of a non-blooming branch and strip the leaves off of the lower half. Make a hole in your planting medium by pushing your pencil into the soil. Dip the end of the stem in rooting hormone, and plant it in your pot. Fill in soil around the cutting to support it, but do not pack it down too much.
Moisten with water, and ensure that the pot has good drainage. Your pot should be kept in warm, sunny conditions indoors (and not in direct sunlight). Water whenever your soil is dry under the top layer. After about four to six weeks have passed, your cutting should be rooted. When you notice new growth, you'll know you have roots.
Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 55 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring, when you can transplant it to its new home. Ensure that the last frost of the year has occurred before doing this, as it can seriously damage your new plant.

Propagating Verbena by Division
This type of propagation is relatively simple; you will need a clean shovel, mulch, fresh soil (any kind will do, though it does need to be well-draining), compost and pots (only necessary if you will be saving divided plants for transporting elsewhere). Division is best done in very early spring (after the plant has entered dormancy, but before it has begun its new spring growth), and needs to be done every few years regardless of whether you have the goal of propagating the plants for best performance. To propagate by division, follow these steps:

Using a shovel, dig up your existing plant. Start from the outside and work your way in to avoid damaging the root(s). Once you have worked it up out of the ground, lay it out.
Start to tease apart the roots with your fingers. Once the roots are untangled, separate your plant into segments, ensuring that each one has at least one thick root section attached.
Prepare your pot(s) or new planting site(s) with amended, well-draining soil. You can either bring in new soil or simply amend your existing soil with compost to complete this task. Then, plant your divisions and water thoroughly.
Apply a thick layer of mulch over the new planting to protect it from cold weather as it acclimates to its new home. Then, enjoy watching it sprout in the next growing season.