Grow Verbena

Southern gardeners grow up knowing Verbena in all its many forms and colors. Because its natural vigor and abundant blooms are unaffected by the kind of intense heat that leaves lesser plants gasping on the ground. They’re ideal for edging a walk. Filling a window box, or salvaging a tired border. Grow Verbena!

Grow Verbena

Verbena, any of several flowering plants of the genera Verbena and Glandularia in the family Verbenaceae. The majority of which are native to the tropical and subtropical Americas.

Most are perennials, though a few are annuals. They usually have opposite leaves that are toothed, lobed, or dissected. The flowers are small to medium-sized and frequently borne on spikes.

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How to Grow Verbena?

When you are ready to learn how to grow verbena, you’ll want to locate this tough specimen where it gets eight to 10 hours of sun each day. The verbena flower is not particular about soil, except that it must be well-draining. Poor soil is acceptable for verbena growing conditions.

Perennial varieties of the verbena flower are often lost when planted in soil that becomes soggy following heavy winter snow or spring rain. Good drainage can offset this problem. Improve drainage before planting verbena by working in well composted, organic material.

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Verbena Care

Verbena is somewhat drought tolerant. And it certainly doesn’t like boggy conditions, but you must not under water it either. Soggy plants will succumb to botrytis blight. But drought-stressed plants will attract spider mites. Water verbena as you might your lawn, with an inch of rain or irrigation each week.

All verbenas benefit greatly from regular deadheading. This not only removes the seed heads that signal the plant to rest but also helps to keep sprawling plants in their place in your landscape. If you have a large planting of low-growing verbena, you can accomplish this quickly with a string trimmer.

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Plant Propagation

Verbena are grown from seed, but do not germinate easily. We recommend use of a propagation mat to improve germination rates. Start Verbena seeds indoors six to eight weeks before the last frost in your area. Or, you can buy young plants at garden stores in the spring.

Space plants 1 1/2 to 2 feet apart and allow them to spread, filling in open areas. Days to Germination: 15 – 25.

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Growing With High Light And Good Air Circulation

Regardless of which consumer you are trying to please. The grower or the home gardener, in all respects, the grower who uses high light in production and good air circulation is going to produce the best crops. All verbena need these two aspects to their production for the highest quality.

Poor air circulation is an invitation to powdery mildew. Which thrives on foliage left wet from irrigation in the evenings and poor air circulation. Verbena can also be toned by cool temperatures in production or moving the plants outside to finish. As long as all danger of frost has passed. Late frosts, even on low temperature-adapted crops, may result in flower delays.

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Side Effects And Safety

Verbena is likely safe for most people when taken by mouth in food amounts. And possibly safe when taken by mouth in small amounts as part of a combination product containing gentian root, elderflower, sorrel, and cowslip flower (SinuComp, Sinupret).

There isn’t enough information to know if verbena is safe when used in medicinal amounts other than as part of the combination product. The combination product can cause digestive system upset and occasionally allergic skin rash.

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