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Northwestern Gardening

Verbena 'Homestead Purple' alternative?

18 years ago

We have a bare slope about 30' long, 6' high, slopes fairly steeply at one end but quickly smooths out to a less severe slant. We've just about finished putting in 3 tons of landscape boulders, not as a wall of rock but as partial support (scattered clusters of boulders). I'll eventually have grasses, small shrubs, and perennials on it, but for this summer there won't be a lot. I'm considering planting V. 'Homestead Purple' over parts of it because it will go well in that location, cover a fair amount of territory quickly, and presumably not be difficult to cut back or take out when we get further along with planting. I love the plant and the color but it's also a very common one -- does anyone have another suggestion for something that will grow quickly, cover parts of a slope well, and be easy to replace/restrain later on? I'm not really interested in annuals, I don't think. Location is full sun. I'm not against V. HP, just wondering if I'm missing a more interesting/less common alternative.

Thanks!

Featured Answer

gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)

18 years ago

For something a bit different, you could try Parahebe catarractea. The spread is not as generous as that of the verbena but it looks more controlled and tidy, is evergreen, has a very long bloom season and would love those conditions. A Great Plant Pick if that makes any difference.

Here is a link that might be useful: Parahebe catarractea

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Comments (6)

Carol_Ann
Original Author
18 years ago
gardengal, thanks!! I looked it up on the internet and figured it was worth checking out in person -- after puzzling people at some of the nurseries I called ("don't you mean *hebe*?") I tracked it down. It's terrific -- I can see why it's a Great Plant Pick. Photos on the internet don't begin to capture it and I think it's going to be perfect for my site. Many thanks for the great idea!
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Not sure if they have it at the Growers Outlet, but they always have it at Home Depot and Lowes. However, I have noticed that HD and Lowes have not gotten in some of their warm-season plants yet. They didn't have salvia, vinca, or fuschias when I went this weekend.
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Amazingly I had a homestead volunteer this spring. It's be years since I tried it. True to form it bloomed nicely in the spring and then declined and eventually died when the weather got hot. A verbena that's done well for me this year is Verbena rigida. Planted last year it made it through the winter, all that rain in spring, and now the triple digit heat. The bed it's planted in had some compost and a bag of decomposed granite dug in. (Wow, by some miracle I was able to post.)
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seattlesuze
18 years ago
Carol Ann,

I'm interested in your parahebe. It's a lovely plant. Where did you finally locate a nursery that carries it?

Thanks,
Sue
Carol_Ann
Original Author
18 years ago
I got it at Portland Nursery on Stark in (obviously) Portland... when I called they said they had one blue and one white, and while I was poking around I found two more blues in their display area. I bought all three blues and may have depleted their supply of that color. They do have a second store and it's possible they have it there.

According to their web site, Joy Creek has it (www.joycreek.com), near Scappoose... they do mail order if you can't find a source closer to you.

It's a charmer and I'm really glad I found it. Good luck!
gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
18 years ago
Also carried by Emery's in Lynnwood.
seattlesuze
18 years ago
Thanks very much for the recommendations.

Suze

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