The history of this wonderful plant goes back more than 2 thousand years. It is shrouded in a trail of secrets and the most delicate lemon aroma. Variety of colors and amazing unpretentiousness. All this is about the modest beauty verbena. Many gardeners are familiar with it, and some just want to plant this flower on their property. But everyone will be interested to know in more detail what kind of verbena there is, what is the correct planting and care for it, how to grow it at home so that it looks as great as in our photos.
Verbena is a herbaceous or semi-shrub plant of the Verbena family. It has many popular names: iron ore, iron ore, pigeon grass, dry nephrod, witchcraft plant, magic rod, holy grass, Juno's tear and others. It has long been considered a medicinal and mystical plant. According to legend, vervain was used to cover the wounds of the crucified Jesus to stop the bleeding. Currently, certain types of it are also used in folk medicine and perfumery.
The homeland of verbena is America. It is believed that the Spaniards brought it to Europe in the 17th century. In warm climates it is grown as a perennial, and in colder climates it is grown as an annual plant.
There are a large number of its types (more than 200). The stems are erect or creeping, rough or smooth, from 20 cm to 1.5 m in height. Verbena leaves are slightly pubescent, with a jagged edge or completely pinnately dissected. The small flowers are somewhat reminiscent of primrose in shape; they form corymbose or paniculate inflorescences, sometimes a multi-flowered spike. The coloring of flowers pleases with its diversity. Proper care will ensure verbena blooms in the garden from early summer to the second half of autumn. After flowering, a nut-shaped fruit is formed, which gives good self-seeding.
Let's look at the most common types.
- Verbena hybrid(Verbena hybrida) - this species combines all hybrid varieties and forms. They are herbaceous perennial plants grown as annuals. Most of them have pubescent tetrahedral shoots, as well as oblong leaves with an uneven edge. The flowers often have an eye in the middle and a slight pleasant scent. Hybrid verbena, in turn, is divided into large-flowered or mammoth (v. mammuth) and low compact (v. nana campacta).
Large-flowered varieties have a height of 30-50 cm, creeping shoots and large flowers. Known varieties: red-flowered Cardinal and Etna (has a creamy white eye), light purple Julia, dark purple Koenigsblau, white Schneekenigin, pink Rosakenigin, blue with a white eye Cyclops.
Verbena hybrid Cardinal 
Verbena hybrid Königsblau
It has a large verbena flower of tall (40-50 cm) varieties with the characteristic names “Pink Fairy”, “White Fairy Tale”.
Low compact varieties (15-20 cm) are very diverse and numerous. Currently popular varieties are Quartz, Obsession, Tuscany. Each of these series can offer flowers of a wide variety of colors: pure white, cream, as well as any shades from soft pink to dark burgundy, from light lilac to deep purple. Some varieties have flowers with a contrasting eye.
Verbena “Lucifer” (red), “Sunny Bunny” (peach), and “Cotton Candy” (snow-white) are also interesting. The stunning variety Peaches and Cream can be called a chameleon; at first its buds are red-scarlet, then gradually change color to cream.
Verbena hybrid Peaches and Cream
Ampelous verbena also belongs to the hybrid species; the long shoots of such varieties grow 30-55 cm. It is worth noting the varietal series with various colors of Magelana and Estrella flowers. The Estrella Voodoo Star variety has red flowers very originally separated by white stripes. In the low-growing variety series Obsession, which we have already mentioned, there are the latest hanging varieties with very beautiful variegated flowers Twister Purple (purple with white), Twister Red (red with white), Twister Violet (purple with white), as well as plain Cascades Purple with Eye, Cascades Red with Eye, Cascades Scarlet. Notice how beautiful the ampelous verbena looks in the photo.
Verbena hybrid Twister Violet 
Verbena hybrid Cascades Scarlet
- Verbena bonarica or Buenos Aires verbena(Verbena bonariensis) is a South American bush species that grows up to 120 cm.
Small pinkish-lilac flowers form spikelets that gather into a loose umbrella. Leaves are elongated with teeth along the edge.
Verbena bonarica has varieties “Lylak”, Finesse, “Purple Rain”, which are favorites of bees, bumblebees and butterflies.
- Verbena tough(Verbena rigida Spreng) has creeping stems, rigid long wedge-shaped leaves with large teeth and hairs below. Small purple flowers form small spherical inflorescences, which are located in groups of 3 at the top of the stem. It can winter successfully in the southern regions.
Among the varieties of this species, Polaris, distinguished by its bluish flowers, can be called.
Verbena tough 
Verbena tough Polaris
- Verbena canada(Verbena canadensis) is a low perennial herbaceous plant with lacy pointed leaves. Small flowers are collected in umbrella inflorescences of white and pink-lilac shades. Gives good self-seeding. Quite cold-resistant.
Varieties of this species: “Pink Frost”, “Perfecta”, “Marusya”, “Pink Pearl”, “Toronto”, “Constellation of Hounds”.
Verbena erecta
- Other types. Among them stands out verbena erecta(Verbena stricta) is a tall (150 cm) modest perennial with greyish-green, heavily pubescent oval leaves with toothed edges. The inflorescence is a long spike of small flowers (about 40 cm). Resistant to drought and cold.
Attractive verbena finely dissected(Verbena tenuisecta), for example, the purple variety Elizabet has an almost creeping shape, the shoot height is about 30 cm.
Grows well vervain vervain(V. Echinoides). It has heavily dissected leaves. Presented with a varietal mixture Lavender Mist.
It is rare to find the old ampel variety Mammuth now. Its elongated inflorescences have retained a stunning, original aroma. Verbena smells very pleasantly like lemon candy.
Stands apart (Verbena triphylla, Lippia citriodora). This is a very simple shrub (up to 2 m) with very small flowers that form an inflorescence-spike. Its outward modesty is more than compensated by its wonderful lemon aroma, which leaves no one indifferent. Only mosquitoes don't like it. Verbena oil is obtained from the leaves of this plant, which is widely used in cooking, perfumery, and folk medicine.
Lemon Verbena or Lippia 
Lemon Verbena or Lippia
Lemon verbena is very thermophilic, so the easiest way to grow it in the house is as indoor plant.
As we have already noted, verbena herb has a number of medicinal properties. Its antiseptic capabilities are used in the treatment of skin and inflammatory diseases. Verbena tea restores strength, normalizes sleep, improves appetite, and reduces high fever. Its anti-atherosclerotic effect is noted - the ability to cleanse blood vessels of plaques. This reduces blood pressure and improves heart function.
Verbena is used in the form of infusions, decoctions, drops, and teas. However, despite all her beneficial features, there are also contraindications. These include: individual intolerance, lactation process, children's age (up to 14 years). Vervain should not be used during pregnancy, as it may cause increased uterine tone. In any case, it is better for sick people to consult their doctor before using verbena herb.
Offering a variety of colors, absolutely unpretentious, pleasing with long-lasting flowering and a wonderful aroma, this flower is a real find for gardeners. Look how gorgeous the verbena is in our photos. Unfortunately, at present it can not be found in every garden, although it does not cause any trouble. We hope that after getting to know this amazing plant better with us, many will come to plant it on their site. And, believe me, you won't regret it! Verbena is an extraordinary flower.
Unusual and unpretentious plant with bright flowers will certainly become one of the most important decorations of a garden or flower garden. Perennial verbena is a favorite plant in flower beds, as it is ideal for our climate and can decorate any landscape.
Verbena is a herbaceous or shrubby plant that can reach a height of 20 cm to 1 meter, sometimes higher. Verbena is native to South America, where it is considered a perennial plant and grows more than a meter in height. This is achieved thanks to the warm climate and slight frosts. In our climate, it becomes possible to grow annual verbena. Description of verbena:
The most popular varieties and types of verbena, their brief characteristicsToday, more than 250 varieties and types of verbena are known, which have their own characteristics and differences. Conventionally, two groups can be distinguished: creeping and bushy. Let's take a closer look at the representatives of each group. Verbena ampelous (creeping)This group of verbena is suitable for growing in flower pots, hanging boxes on balconies, and for forming flower carpets. It is characterized by low growth and creeping stems. When used in flowerpots, the stems can hang down to 60 cm, and when creating carpets on the soil, they grow up to 5 square meters. m. Among the more striking representatives of ampelous verbena, the following can be distinguished:
All other varieties of verbena belong to the bush group and are grown in open ground. Below is a description of the most common ones.
Hybrid verbenaThis variety is one of the most beloved and popular among gardeners. It has a medium height, distinctive feature is a very branched bush, the stems of which reach a height of up to 60 cm. The leaves are rounded and covered with villi. Hybrid verbena has different flower colors, which makes it indispensable in landscape design. Conventionally, hybrid verbena can be divided into compact and large-flowered, depending on the size of the flowers. Compact verbena includes the following varieties:
The most popular varieties of large-flowered verbena:
Canadian verbenaThis plant is a low-growing plant, barely reaching 20 cm in height. The stem has a tetrahedral shape, around which beautiful openwork leaves are arranged in pairs. The flowers are collected in bunches and are pink, purple or white. Hard VerbenaAnother variety of verbena. It is characterized by creeping stems and small inflorescences of lilac or pale blue color. Usually, three small inflorescences are collected at the ends of the shoots. Reaches a height of 30-35 cm. Verbena Buenos AiresThis is one of the tallest varieties. Some varieties can reach a height of up to 1 meter. The leaves of this verbena have a pointed oblong shape. Flowers of purple-pink shades. Gallery of photos of verbena of different varietiesYou can see the differences between different varieties of verbena in more detail and clearly in the photos below. Verbena ampelous “Snow Queen”
Verbena ampelous "Imagination"
Verbena hybrid "Amethyst"
Verbena hybrid "Etna"
Verbena canada
Verbena Buenos Aires
Three ways to propagate verbenaLike many other flowering plants, verbena can be propagated in three ways: seeds, cuttings and dividing the bush. Propagation by seeds.After the inflorescences on the verbena fade, small boxes with seeds appear. You can assemble them yourself, but they are very small and this will not be easy to do. The easiest way to get seeds for growing verbena is to buy them in specialized stores. Growing verbena from seedsIs one of the most common methods. Since in this case you can get early seedlings. You can start planting seeds at the end of March or early April. For planting, boxes filled with earth with the obligatory content of sand and drainage are used. The seeds are scattered over the surface of the soil; there is no need to sprinkle them with soil. The box is then covered with film or glass to create a greenhouse effect. After which, it is best to place the box near the battery for two days to allow the seeds to swell. Then you can remove it to a cooler place for complete germination. After picking, it is necessary to apply fertilizer to obtain healthy and strong verbena seedlings.
Propagation by cuttingsThis propagation method is suitable for verbena varieties that do not have seeds. You can start cuttings at the end of February. To do this, cut off the crown, where there are 4-6 paired leaves. It is better to treat the cut with charcoal. The leaves must be removed, only the top ones remain. Next, the prepared cuttings are placed in the soil. Both sand and sand-peat mixture in equal proportions are perfect. The cuttings are immersed in the soil to the bottom node. You can cover the top with film. In two weeks the root system will begin to develop.
Reproduction by dividing the bushOnly verbena officinalis, which has numerous healing properties, is propagated in this way. The process of planting verbena in open groundAfter the plants have been transplanted into separate pots and picked, you can begin planting verbena in the ground. The main condition is the absence of frost, since verbena has a low threshold of frost resistance and may die. Therefore, before planting, you need to make sure that frost is not expected.
The process of planting verbena is as follows:
Features of caring for verbenaJust like the process of planting verbena, caring for it does not require much effort. But if you follow some rules, you will get a beautiful and healthy plant that will delight you with abundant flowering. Verbena care:
In the presented photos of verbena care you can see all the main features of this process. Loosening
The use of verbena in landscape designGrowing verbena in garden plots is becoming increasingly popular, as it has a bright appearance and low maintenance. Verbena is an ideal plant for decorating flower beds and flower beds. Various varieties with their bright colors will fit perfectly into compositions where other flowers will be adjacent to them. For example, asters. Ampere verbenas are perfect for decorating your home or gazebo. You just need to purchase beautiful flowerpots or make boxes. This way you will get an elegant and bright decoration that will delight you with its colorful flowers for a long time. Verbena can be planted in pots and thereby decorate the entrance to the house or veranda. As an option, you can frame the garden path. To add sophistication to your landscape, verbena can be used to create carpets on the soil or cascades. This is perfect for alpine slides.
Medicinal properties of verbenaEven ancient people considered verbena a healing plant, endowing it with unusual properties. Some varieties of verbena are indeed widely used in folk medicine. These include verbena officinalis and lemon verbena. Verbena officinalis is used to cleanse blood vessels and remove cholesterol. Due to the presence of tannins, verbena is used to treat mild stomach diseases and lack of appetite. It can also be used to normalize blood pressure. In folk medicine, the entire above-ground part of the plant is used. Raw materials are harvested during the flowering period. Lemon verbena is used to make verbena oil, which has antiseptic properties. It is made by steam distilling the leaves.
If you are an inexperienced gardener, this does not mean that you cannot transform your garden. Verbena is an ideal assistant for this. Easy to care for, it will decorate your garden with bright colorful flowers for a long time. |
A large number of flower growers in different parts of our planet have long appreciated the graceful beauty and uniqueness of the plant with the melodious name “verbena”. It is ideal for growing both in open and closed ground, so we can see the luxurious inflorescences of a delicate flower not only in personal plots and flower beds, but also on the balconies of city streets. The photo of verbena shows the period of its flowering, and we will tell you in detail how to plant the plant correctly and provide proper care in this article.
Canadian verbena Homestead Red is a low-growing variety used as an ampel and ground cover.
Verbena belongs to the verbena family and has about 250 varieties of seasonal and perennial plants. It grows well in any climate zone; in tropical conditions it blooms profusely almost all year round and looks like a small shrub. That is, at its core, verbena is perennial. But in our country it is most often grown as a herbaceous annual.
Plant height varies from 20-40 cm (hybrid and Canadian verbena) to 150-200 cm (Bonar verbena, hard, lemon). The width of even low-growing species often reaches 70–80 cm. Depending on the type of flower, the stems can be erect (bush varieties) or creeping (ampels).
Bonar or Buenos Aires verbena (Verbena bonariensis) is a tall plant that blooms with purple fragrant flowers. 
Hybrid verbena (Verbena hybrida) is the most common species, characterized by a variety of varieties. Pictured is the Vegas Fluor Pink variety The jagged leaves of verbena have a pleasant bright green hue. On each individual stem of the plant, 40–50 miniature carnation-like flowers are formed, which recreate a beautiful “cap”.
The color palette of inflorescences is very diverse. White, pink, peach, red, purple, blue, blue - these are not all the tones that verbena can boast of. Moreover, the flowers can be either monochromatic or combine several colors at once. For example, the hybrid verbena variety Lanai Twister Red has inflorescences with red and pink petals. And the Tuscany Burgundy Eye variety has dark burgundy flowers with a white eye in the center.
Hybrid verbena Lanai Twister Red Verbena character
Verbena is quite unpretentious. It is resistant to heat and drought. It is not afraid of slight autumn and spring frosts (down to -3°C), so it can delight with its flowering from spring to October (even longer in the southern regions).
Also, verbena does not have any special requirements for soil quality. The only condition: it must allow moisture to pass through well and prevent stagnation of water and subsequent waterlogging. Clayey, heavy soil is not suitable; it slows down root growth and causes root rot. In southern regions, perennial varieties of verbena often disappear when planted in soil that becomes soggy after heavy winter snow or spring rain. Good drainage can compensate for this problem.
Another advantage of verbena is its long flowering, which does not subside in the summer heat. And a very wide range of colors.
Ways to grow verbena
There are several ways to get a beautiful verbena on your balcony or plot:
- buy seedlings;
- sow seeds;
- cut the variety you like.
If everything is clear with the first option, then the second and third require clarification, and we will now deal with them.
Sowing verbena seeds
Verbena is grown from seeds in late February or early March. From sowing to the beginning of flowering, an average of 2.5-3 months passes. That is, if you sow verbena seeds in early March, you can be guaranteed to admire the flowers in early June.
Verbena seeds are quite large, similar to aster seeds To plant seeds, you need to prepare a soil mixture of peat, garden soil and sand, or buy ready-made soil in the store. To disinfect the soil, it should be steamed, calcined or frozen, and then spilled with any fungicide composition. This is especially true when self-production substrate from soil from the garden.
Please note that some types of verbena (for example, bonar or hybrid) require stratification (exposure to cold). The shell of the verbena seed itself is very dense, so it is difficult for the sprouts to break it. Under the influence of temperature changes, the shell easily cracks and the sprout is released.
Stratification can be done in the following ways:
- Before sowing, place the seeds on a damp cloth. Place the resulting package in plastic bag and put it in the refrigerator for 10 days.
- Sow the seeds in a bowl (or other planting container), cover with a bag and refrigerate for 10-14 days.
Stratification ensures accelerated pecking of verbena. Without low temperature stress, the germination period will be longer, and some seeds may not germinate at all.
The process of sowing verbena seeds looks like this:
- the bowl is filled with the prepared soil mixture;
- using a flat board or spatula, lightly compact the top layer of soil;
- spread the seeds evenly on the surface of the soil; sprinkling them on top is not recommended;
- thoroughly irrigate each area of the container with a sprayer;
- cover the container with a bag or glass;
- In order for the seeds to germinate faster, place the finished container in a warm place (optimal temperature 20–25°C), in the dark.
Don't let the soil in your planting bed dry out, as this can slow germination or even kill the germinating seed.
Verbena seeds take a long time to germinate and are unfriendly. The first shoots usually appear within a week, after which the container should be moved to a window (in the light). The temperature should be reduced to 16–18°C. During this period, seedlings will continue to appear; the entire germination process may take about a month.
Plant picking is done when at least 2–4 leaves appear on the sprout. When they grow to five pairs, the top is pinched; this procedure is necessary for the formation of a bushy structure of verbena.
Note!
For growing a plant on a balcony, ampelous verbena (look at the photo) is best suited. This species is most suitable for planting and care at home, and the final size of the flower allows it to be successfully grown in a standard pot or hanging plant pot.
Ampelous verbena is a worthy alternative to petunia in hanging baskets and flowerpots The technology for sowing verbena seeds for seedlings is shown in the video:
Verbena cuttings
If you have a mother plant, you can use another method of propagating verbena - using stem cuttings. This way you can get flowering bushes faster than by sowing seeds. In addition, there are vegetative varieties of verbena (for example, the Veralena series), which are propagated only by cuttings.
The cutting technology is not complicated:
- Cut off a green, non-lignified shoot of 5-7 cm with several internodes (2-4). If there is an inflorescence at the top of the shoot, cut it off.
The lower leaves must be removed, exposing the bottom of the stem - To speed up rooting, powder the cut of the cutting with Kornevin or its analogues. This stage is optional; in the spring, rooting takes place successfully even without the use of stimulants.
- Bury the bottom of the cutting into the soil at least one internode. The leaves on the buried part are torn off. The soil should be light, for example, store-bought universal soil + raising agents.
- The top of the container with the planted cuttings is covered with a bag or a cut plastic bottle with a hole on top (for ventilation).
- Place the cutting in a shaded place, keep the soil constantly moist until rooting.
The cutting takes 2-4 weeks to take root. A signal that roots have already appeared is the appearance of new growth.
How to cut verbena and get a lot of almost mature seedlings from one bush, watch the video:
And here are already rooted verbena bushes from cuttings:
Planting in garden flower beds and pots
To plant verbena in open ground, it is best to choose a well-lit place, since the plant is very heat-loving and grows well even in dry conditions.
The soil should be loose, light, it should first be enriched with humus and fertilized with a special compound (for example, humus). Ideal PH 5.8-6.2.
Be sure to avoid frost. Despite the cold resistance of adult plants, seedlings can slow down in growth when exposed to sub-zero temperatures. Verbena is usually transplanted to a permanent location in mid/late May.
Low-growing verbenas are planted at a distance of 20 cm from each other, ampelous and groundcover - at a distance of 25-30 cm. Tall species will require even more space; they are planted at intervals of 25-35 cm.
If planting is done in indoor pots, be sure to provide drainage. To do this, place a layer of pebbles or expanded clay on the bottom of the container, only then fill the form with soil mixture.
The same verbena - Lanai Blush White - but in hanging boxes Transplantation is carried out using the transshipment method. This means that the sprout is removed from the container along with a lump of earth. This way, the plant’s root system will remain intact, and it will quickly take root in its new location.
The finished pots are placed in the sunniest place, where it is possible to create a constant flow of fresh air for the plant.
Basic nuances of care
With correct planting of verbena and high-quality care, the plant will bloom profusely from the end of May until the end of October inclusive; the inflorescences are distinguished by their attractiveness; you can appreciate their tenderness and beauty from numerous photos of flowers.
Regardless of the growing conditions for verbena (outdoor/indoor), you need to provide the plant with ideal conditions:
- the temperature should vary in the range of 22–28 degrees, with a significant increase experienced flower growers It is advised to cover the verbena with a light cloth or temporarily transfer it to the shade;
- the same applies to lighting; scorching sun rays can lead to rapid drying of the soil and leaves;
- complex fertilizer is applied once every 2–3 weeks throughout the entire flowering period;
- water the verbena after the top layer of soil has dried; it is not recommended to spray the leaves and top;
- after watering, loosen the soil - this improves root aeration;
- to prolong the flowering period, faded inflorescences are torn off;
- If necessary, you need to trim overgrown shoots, this will help to form an attractive flower head.
Verbena in a composition with petunia in a hanging pot Diseases and pests of verbena
The diseases to which verbena is most susceptible are:
- – a white powdery coating forms on the surface of the leaves and flowers, the lower leaves turn yellow and sag, gradually the entire bush turns yellow and dies without treatment;
- gray rot - spots appear on the leaves, buds and flowers rot, infected tissues become covered with a gray dusty coating;
- root rot - the plant turns yellow and withers, the roots become dark brown.
All these diseases are fungal in origin and occur due to improper watering or infection. Fungicides are used for treatment.
Of the pests that attack verbena:
- Thrips - pierce and suck out plant cells, as a result of which silvery-gray “movements” and spots appear on the surface of the leaves. At high level infection leaves dry out.
- – pierces leaf tissue, leaving small yellow dots on it. Lives and feeds on the underside of leaves. When the population is high, it forms a web.
- - feeds on plant sap by piercing the tissue. This slows growth and can cause leaf death.
To destroy aphids and thrips, insecticides are used; for spider mites, an acaricide is needed.
Healthy, vigorous plants are less susceptible to pests. Therefore, when growing verbena, the main thing is to pay attention to proper agricultural technology.
How to Preserve Verbena in Winter
To ensure proper wintering, garden verbena is cut to 1/3 at the end of autumn and then dug up so that the roots of the plant are completely covered with soil. Such cuttings are best preserved in dark cellars.
House flowers are moved to a warmer, brighter place before the first frost arrives. The temperature in the room should not exceed 15°C, otherwise an active growing season will begin.
The stems are shortened by half, and the resulting inflorescences are periodically removed until spring. At the end of February, the remaining trunk is shortened as much as possible and transplanted into a new pot, with a complete replacement of the soil. This way you can preserve last year’s verbena, which will still bloom in the new season (that is, make it a perennial even in our climate). However, most often it is used as a mother plant for cutting cuttings and growing new young bushes.
We invite you to watch a video about cuttings from an overwintered verbena mother plant:
If you strictly follow all these recommendations, then next season the verbena will grow more actively and new flowers will quickly grow on it!
A magnificent plant that has been giving us its beauty since ancient times is the beautiful verbena. It came to the European continent from America around the turn of the 17th-18th centuries. Among the Gauls and Persians, verbena was considered a sacred herb; it was called “The Devil’s Poison”; it was kept in their homes to drive out dark forces; church ministers used vervain branches to cleanse the altar.
Verbena was used as a home talisman. The legendary aroma - tart, sweetish, fresh is associated with calm and confidence. Gardeners turned their attention to it because of the delicately fragrant flowers. Most likely, then their cross-pollination occurred, and a new species appeared - hybrid verbena. Breeders have developed a great variety of varieties of various shades that meet the most diverse needs of amateur flower growers.
Growing verbena is not difficult!
Verbena planting in the ground and care photo
Planting and caring for verbena is not very difficult. The flower requires moderate watering. If not watered regularly, it fades too quickly. Prefers non-acidic, sufficiently fertilized soil.
They love light areas and are relatively tolerant of partial shade. For planting, prepare grooves or holes by laying drainage on the bottom. Fertilize them with compost or leaf humus. Seedlings are planted at a distance of at least 20-25 cm from each other.
As they grow, they water them moderately, feed them with inorganic fertilizers, and promptly trim off the faded ones. If desired, you can leave a sprig with ripening seeds and collect them to plant next spring. In this case, it should be taken into account that hybrids do not retain their parental characteristics, and from one specimen you can get plants that are completely different in color and shape.
Growing verbena from seeds to seedlings at home
- In February-March place the seeds on the surface of a moistened flower substrate in a container with drainage holes. We strive to maintain a distance of 3-4 cm between seeds.
- Sprinkle with a thin layer of humus.
- Cover with film or glass, so less moisture evaporates and the seeds will germinate faster.
- Place the seedlings in a semi-shaded place. When the seeds begin to hatch (in about a week or two), you need to add light and carry out daily ventilation for 10-15 minutes.
- It is important not to overdo it with watering, otherwise the plant may get blackleg; water should not get on the tender sprouts. Water along the edge of the pot so that the water flows down the side directly to the bottom.
- When all the seeds have sprouted, the cover is removed.
- The next step is to keep the soil mixture moist.
- When the first three true leaves appear, densely sown verbena can be picked into separate cups. Do this carefully so as not to damage the roots. It’s better to help yourself with a toothpick or fork to make it easier to “dig up” plants with a lump of earth.
- Young plants are fed with liquid complex fertilizer once a week. For branching and more abundant flowering, pinching the growth point above the fourth or fifth leaf is carried out.
- When growing low-growing hybrids, bush formation is not carried out; they branch well on their own.
- Before planting in the ground, 10-12 days in advance, you must begin to harden the seedlings, gradually accustoming them to the sun and air outside. Starting from an hour or two, increase the hardening time and on the last day leave the seedlings to spend the night.
Verbena growing from seeds when to plant The photo shows seedlings ready for planting
These are the gorgeous bushes you get in the end. They must be carefully released from the container so as not to destroy the lump of earth and damage the roots. They are transplanted into a flowerbed, having prepared shallow holes, with a depth margin of 2-3 cm in relation to the height of our container. We take the distance between the holes 25-30 cm so that the plants have enough space for active growth and development. We install the seedlings vertically, sprinkle them with soil, and lightly compact them with our palms. Then water thoroughly to moisten the soil well. But don’t overwater, verbena doesn’t tolerate excess moisture. Ideally, a film should not form on the surface; the earth should retain its loose structure.
The video will tell you how to grow verbena from seeds:
Beautiful seedlings are obtained without much hassle; it is enough to simply carry out simple agricultural techniques in a timely manner.
Verbena propagation by cuttings
This method is usually used when you need to preserve a plant you like.
- 5-8 centimeter cuttings taken from the tops of branches are produced in August-September.
- They are planted in soil consisting of sand and peat, taken equally, or simply placed in water with a root solution.
- The cuttings should be covered with glass until rooting. As soon as new shoots appear, the glass or film is removed and the top is pinched.
- Next spring they can be transplanted into open ground.
- When transferring rooted cuttings to a permanent place, they are first hardened off, gradually accustoming them to the open air.
How to get a verbena bush from a cutting, watch the video:
A verbena bush you like can be carefully transplanted into a pot, moved for wintering to a room with a low temperature, and cuttings can be cut from it at the end of winter, using it as a mother plant.
How does verbena overwinter?
In cold climates with winter frosts, verbena cannot survive. To preserve the plant, it is dug up and placed in a container, which is placed in a cool room where the temperature does not rise above 15 °C. Flowering is stopped by cutting off the buds before they bloom, and long shoots are pruned and, if necessary, rooted to produce new bushes.
Diseases and pests of verbena
- Root rot from overwatering can be prevented by good drainage.
- You can get rid of mites and aphids that attack young plants using an insecticide. Irrigation with tar water (5 drops of birch tar per bucket of water) gives good results.
- Suffers from leaf miners. If you notice bite marks on the leaves, you should treat the plants with appropriate insecticides.
- Verbena gets sick very rarely. Just avoid overwatering, which can lead to blackleg and various viral diseases.
Types and varieties of verbena with photos and descriptions
Verbena stricta
The only one growing independently in the middle zone up to one and a half meters high. The serrated leaves sit on an erect stem. Dark hay-purple flowers are collected in inflorescences up to 40 cm long.
Verbena Buenos Aires Verbena bonariensis
Native to South America, with climbing stems 90-120 cm high. natural form grows like a perennial. Unpretentious with a pronounced main stem and dark green opposite leaves. Small lilac-blue flowers are collected in spikelets, forming umbrella-shaped inflorescences. Blooms profusely and for a long time. Unusual in single plantings.
Verbena Verbena Canadensis
Canadian verbena variety Verbena canadensis ‘Perfecta’ planting and care in open ground photo
The same heat-loving plant with thin stems 15-19 cm long, pointed, deeply divided leaves. Lilac-lilac-white flowers form an umbrella-shaped inflorescence. Abundant flowering is accompanied by self-seeding.
Verbena rigida
Verbena rigida variety Verbena rigida ‘Polaris’ planting and care in open ground photo
A perennial species of South American origin, usually cultivated as an annual, produces brilliant purple or lilac-red flowers in summer. It is characterized by branched, sometimes creeping shoots and wedge-shaped, hard, pubescent leaves.
Verbena hybrid Verbena hybrid
Quite common and much smaller than the previous one, it includes a group of hybrids with fragrant, variously colored flowers. Among the many varieties: 'Flame' with bright flowers, 'Sissinghurst' with pale pinks, 'Amethyst' with brilliant blues. ‘Sparkle Mix’ hybrids are distinguished by creeping stems and white flowers. Used in mixborders and group plantings.
Verbena officinalis
Herbaceous perennial 25-100 cm high with opposite leaves without stipules and small flowers on spike-shaped inflorescences of pale lilac color. It blooms in June-July, bears fruit in August-September. It grows everywhere in meadows, on old ruins, wastelands, along the banks of rivers and streams. Used for the preparation of medicinal raw materials.
Description of verbena flower
This includes about 250 species, distributed mainly in temperate and tropical climates. Perennial grown by flower growers in their garden plots as an annual. Plants are highly branched, spreading with serrated, lanceolate leaves. The roots are fibrous. At the beginning of summer, fragrant and very bright flowers clove-shaped, collected in apical scutes of 25-40 pieces with multi-colored colors, plain and with an eye in the center.
Flowering begins in June and is accompanied by an abundance of fragrant buds until late autumn. Tolerates light frosts. The size and shape of different species differs significantly. Depending on the variety, it is recommended to grow verbena in a flower bed, flower bed or pots. Arrangers use it with pleasure to decorate bouquets due to the brightness of the inflorescences, as well as their long-term preservation in water after cutting.
Verbena uses
The healing properties of verbena have been known for a long time; our ancestors used it to treat various ailments. And in the Middle Ages it was a real panacea for many ailments. During epidemics, it was used as a disinfectant and wound-healing agent. It's used traditional medicine different countries. Recognized by official medicine. Helps with colds, cholecystitis, rheumatism, sclerosis, as an antipyretic, to normalize metabolism, etc. Decoctions are used by cosmetologists to stimulate hair growth.
Verbena is considered a herb astrologically subordinate to Venus - it is capable of fulfilling any desire, it was used against witchcraft, it was used to cleanse houses, and a drink of love was prepared from its branches. In Rus', dried verbena branches were sewn into clothes and used as a talisman. Planted near the house, it attracts friends and discourages enemies. Vervain is still revered for these magical properties.
Nowadays this is one of the most popular plants; they decorate them personal plots, balconies, window sills. It looks great in flower beds and borders. And hanging flowerpots with ampelous verbena are not inferior in beauty and scattering of multi-colored umbrellas to other inhabitants of the garden or balcony.
Verbena bicolor verbena called ‘Wicked Mad Magenta’ photo