9 Verbenas to Vamp Up the Summer Garden

Zones:

Winter hardy in zones 8-11.

Bloom season:

May through October.

Sun and soil requirements:

Full sun (at least 8 hours a day) and average well-drained soil.

Characteristics:

Garden verbenas (Verbena ×hybrida) are short-lived tender perennials grown as annuals in most climates. Varieties range in height from low-growing and trailing to somewhat upright. The tiny, fragrant verbena flowers form saucer-shaped clusters up to 3 inches across over lance-shaped, sometimes deeply divided, foliage. The most common flower colors include shades of pink, red, purple, coral, and blue-violet, as well as bicolored varieties with contrasting eyes, stripes, and blotches of color. There are also tall verbena varieties (Verbena bonariensis), also called Brazilian vervain, that are 4- to 5-feet-tall and tower well above the more common garden verbena varieties. Also a perennial that is usually grown as an annual, it has smaller, 2-inch clusters of flowers on slender but sturdy stems. Tall verbena can be vigorous self-sowers, but newer cultivars, such as Meteor Shower®, are bred to be less assertive.

Attracts:

The brightly colored, sweetly scented flowers of verbena provide a rich source of nectar for pollinators, attracting hummingbirds, bees, and many types of butterflies.

Superbena® series:

These new verbena hybrids, developed by Proven Winners®, are bred to be more robust, more mildew resistant, and more resilient than older varieties. They also produce larger flowers in a broad pallet of hues, including bicolored striped patterns.

Tapien® series:

A type of trailing verbena characterized by a multibranching growth habit, spreading up to 3 feet to create a dense low-growing carpet of blooms. Tapiens are also highly mildew resistant and thrive under a wide range of weather conditions, ranging from extreme heat to light frost.

Lanai® series:

A semi-trailing verbena characterized by bold patterns, bright colors, and contrasting eyes. It spreads up to 2 feet and has one of the longest bloom seasons, extending from early spring through fall. Compact versions with mounded habits are also available and are ideal for smaller containers and baskets.

What about lemon verbena?

A popular member of the verbena family, lemon verbena (Aloysia triphylla) belongs to another genus. Its leaves give off a lemony scent when rubbed and are widely used in aromatherapy products and perfume. Most other verbenas have very little scent, and some even give off an unpleasant smell when the leaves are rubbed or crushed. Lemon verbena plants are also used as a medicinal and culinary herb. Lemon verbena can get quite large when grown in the garden, but can also be grown indoors in a container if trimmed regularly.

What about blue vervain?

Mainly known for its use as a medicinal herb, blue vervain (Verbena hastata) grows 2 to 6 feet tall and blooms July to September. In the wild, it forms colonies with slow-spreading rhizomes and self-seeds.

Photo by: Stephanie Frey / Shutterstock.

When to plant:

Midspring or early summer, after the threat of frost has passed.

Where to plant:

• Hanging baskets
• Containers
• Landscape borders
• Groundcover

Growing from seed:

Verbena transplants are widely available at garden centers in the spring, but you can also grow some types from seed, with the exception of sterile verbena hybrids, which can only be started from purchased plants. Sow the seeds indoors 8 to 10 weeks before the last frost date in your area, and transplant the seedlings into outdoor beds once the soil warms up.

Water requirements:

Although established verbenas can tolerate dry soil, you should water your verbena plants regularly during extended periods of drought, especially container-grown plants. It is equally important to ensure that your verbenas are well-drained in both containers and garden beds so the roots don’t sit in soggy soil. For the best results, pair verbenas with other plants that have similar water requirements.

Fertilizing:

In garden beds, application of a continuous-release fertilizer and enriching the soil with organic matter at the time of planting will usually provide enough sustenance to keep your verbenas blooming nonstop. Fertilize container-grown plants more often, either with a slow-release fertilizer or regular applications of a water-soluble fertilizer.

Pruning and deadheading:

Although most verbenas do not require deadheading to keep them blooming, you may want to trim back trailing varieties if they begin to overtake containers or crowd out other plants in the garden. Giving your verbenas a light trim every now and then will also result in fuller plants and more prolific flowering.

Get more verbena growing tips:

Succeeding with Superbena (from Proven Winners).

One of the most fuss-free flowering plants you can grow, verbena suffers from few pest or disease problems. When issues do arise, they are usually caused by lack of enough sunlight or poorly drained soil. Here are some stress signals to look for and potential solutions.

• Leggy plants and sparse flowering are often a result of too much shade. Move your verbenas to a spot in the garden where they can bask in the sun all day. Verbenas recover well after transplanting, so don't hesitate to relocate your plants to a better location.
• Powdery mildew is the most common problem seen in verbena, and even the newer mildew-resistant varieties aren’t immune. Be sure to give your plants adequate spacing to permit good air circulation and avoid watering from overhead. Also don’t water your plants in the evening, so the foliage doesn’t remain damp overnight.
• Yellowing leaves, anemic flowering, and root rot are all signs of poorly drained, water-logged soil. You can often salvage your plants by transplanting them into an area of your garden with better drainage or into elevated beds. If these problems are occurring in container-grown plants, add more drainage holes.
• Spider mites are one of the few pests that can pose a problem for verbena. If you notice spider-web-like netting on your plants and the leaves look discolored, try spraying the foliage with a strong stream of water or use an insecticidal soap. Because verbena is attractive to beneficial pollinators, avoid using chemical insecticides.