Verbenas For Late Colour by Martin Blow

Verbenas are great flowers for bridging the change from summer to autumn with their long-lasting heads of flower in purple, pink or white. They are a particular favourite of butterflies which flock to the nectar rich blooms. There are many hardy species for all but the coldest areas.

The well-known Verbena bonariensis is a tall but airy plant with stiff stems quickly growing to 4 or 5ft / 120-150cm tall. Despite its slenderness it doesn’t usually need staking. It is brilliant as a dot plant among ground hugging neighbours in a gravel garden or planted in drifts. Goldfinches will throng to the Verbena’s seedheads for a feast. “Lollipops” is a shorter form.

Less tall is Verbena stricta, which is possibly the hardiest species. The flowers grow in short spires about 3ft / 90cm tall. The species has lavender blue flowers, but pink or white varieties are now available.

Verbena hastata is another tall species that can grow as tall as 3-4ft / 90-120cm. The flowers are in branched candelabra-like heads and can be blue, white, or most attractive in my opinion, pink as in “Rosea”.

The short bushy Verbena rigida only grows to about 2ft / 60cm tall and is covered with ball-shaped clusters of pinky purple flowers. In winter it dies back to its tuberous roots, coming through again in spring. Their short bushy nature makes them more suitable for container growing than other hardy Verbenas.

The creeping Verbena corymbosa grows long trailing stems, clothed with balls of purple flowers. The stems root readily and will snake and clamber around and through other plants in the border. It seems to be slightly less hardy in severe winters, but pieces usually survive under shrubs to grow in spring.

Verbenas like a sunny spot and dislike too much winter wet. They can survive drought but prefer a little goodness in the soil and a drink now and again. If too dry in spring, they can develop powdery mildew. A dry mulch of bark over the crowns in winter will help in very cold areas.

Janet & I organise Plant Hunters’ Fairs, specialist plant fairs at wonderful locations. Please see www.planthuntersfairs.co.uk for a full list of all our plant fairs. Please check the website for ticketing information and all the latest updates before travelling.

Plant Fair Dates for your 2025 diary: Sunday 17^th August, Middleton Hall, Nr Tamworth, B78 2AE, entry to Gardens & Plant Fair only £4 (special reduced entry price), ticket required. Saturday 30^th August, Bodenham Arboretum, Nr Kidderminster, DY11 5TB, free entry to Plant Fair. Sunday 31^st August, Chasewater Country Park, WS8 7NL, free entry to Plant Fair, pay & display parking. Sunday 7^th September, Weston Park, Shifnal, TF11 8LE, special offer for Garden & Plant Fair entry. Advance online ticket purchase only £5 (£10 on the day, pay on gate).