growth habit of different perennial verbenas?

14 years ago

Hello,

I want to edge a border with perennial verbenas. Most web sites just show a picture of the flower, not the plant. Can you help? Are there any verbena fanatics can give me the basics on growth habits, and flowering, for different perennial verbenas. Or are they all about the same.

I'm familiar with Homestead Purple, which expands and sprawls, flowers and flowers, and is tough as nails. Are they all like this, or are some more compact and mounding, etc.

Varieties I've been looking at include:

Blue Princess

Texas Apple Blossom

Decked Out

...there are others (link below) but the above are ones I've seen mentioned here.

Thanks!

growitnow

Virginia, z7

Here is a link that might be useful: some verbenas

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Comment (1)

scottyboipdx
14 years ago
Hi growitnow...most of those (and most of the verbenas sold on the market) are the trailing type...usually get a foot or so tall...and 2-3 feet spread. I love most of them, but if you are looking for something different, try verbena bonariensis...you've probably seen them all over, they have become more and more popular over the years. Also, not sure of your climate for sure, but threre is verbena lilacina, a california native that forms a small shrub (about 2x3 feet) of finely disected leaves and lovely lavender flowers off and on all summer...hardy to about 20Â°. Also, there is verbena ridiga...which is more upright, but a bit more open and sprawling. If you want a good spreader, though, homestead purple is great...although High Country Gardens introduced an heirloom verbena with better cold-tolerance this year called "Annie" i think...it looks just like the variety my gran used to grow back in Nebraska and was practically a weed...but i never saw that variety anywhere other than her farm...i always assumed it was some crazy chance hybrid...one thing is for sure, you can rarely go wrong with verbena...they practically thrive on neglect.
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MeMo, here is a link for you. My plant looks exactly like the one listed there. Note that the plant is also known by the Latin name of lippia citriodora, but I believe they are one and the same plant. Just bear in mind it may be recorded by either one of the names when you buy. Citriodora means with the odour of citrus, referring to the fresh lemony fragrance of the leaves. As for the other verbenas Token is inquiring about I share the same fate - usually loose them over Winter, even though they are supposed to be perennial in my climate. I'm experimenting with one in a pot this year, we'll see if it behaves differently due to better drainage. I have never seen the bonariensis offered for sale here, would love to try it out. Do you buy pots or do you start it from seed? Eduarda Here is a link that might be useful: Lemon verbena
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The annual kinds were from seed. I think the seed company put annual but it's really a perennial in warmer zones. I've had lots of plants like that that the seed companies say are annuals. Verbenas have always been evergreen for me, so there is no doubt that it wasn't reseeding. Lemon verbena!!! It's a wonderful plant. No flowers, though. The leaves smell so delicious and you can add them to your tea. I grab some leaves every time I walk past them. Hardiness is iffy here but it should do fine in zone 9. It's come back for me for the last 2 years but I took cuttings just in case. Thanks for the hint on trimming back the verbena. Some of it has moved right out of the beds and into the yard and if I cut it it will be gone for good. Maybe next Feb I'll remember. One verbena that no one has mentioned is verbena bonsiensis (sp?). It is really tall, not creeping at all. It blooms purple on the top and blooms all summer. I have it throughout the rose garden. Melva, Verbena is really easy to root so if you see anyone with a kind you want then you should take cuttings.
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growth habit of different perennial verbenas?

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scottyboipdx

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