How to grow verbena bonariensis

Verbena bonariensis bears many small purple flowers on tall olive green stems which are rough to the touch. Loved by bees and butterflies, which can often be seen hanging precariously from the tiny flowers, it blooms throughout the summer months well into autumn and can grow up to 2 metres. In my garden I grow a small variety called lollipop which is said to be shorter than other varieties and said to have a maximum height of 60 cm but no one seemed to tell mine and I have many that are double this height. 

All photos by Toni Abram.

Butterfly on verbena bonariensis

Verbena is best grown in moist, well drained soil, in a sunny, sheltered position. After flowering, the flowers can be left on to develop seed heads for birds and the dead stalks can be left to provide winter interest but cut back the old stems in spring, as new shoots begin to show at the base of the plant. To protect the roots from frost over the winter months, cover these with a mulch or straw.

Verbena plants are prolific self seeders, so once you have one plant in your garden, it is likely you won't need to propagate it. They can however, be propagated from cuttings, grown from seed sown directly in the ground or you can start them off early, in late winter, keeping them under glass and potting them up when the seedlings are large enough to handle and the danger of frost has passed. 

Last year as an experiment, I dug up some small plants that had seeded themselves around the garden and because I don't have a greenhouse, put them in pots and left them outside all winter. They looked pretty sorry for themselves for months but have gone on to grow into incredibly healthy happy plants. 

Despite its height, verbena bonariensis shouldn't need staking, as the stems are stiff and wiry and an established plant can provide support for other plants. Flowers do not need deadheading, although you may want to cut back plants if they are getting too big. It is a mostly trouble free garden plant, however it can become invasive and in colder climates plants may not survive winter.