Verbena canadensis
Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Glandularia canadensis
- Phonetic Spelling
- ver-BEE-nah ka-nah-DEN-sis
- Description
-
Rose Verbena is a herbaceous perennial native to North Carolina and can be found from VA south to FL. In nature, it grows along roadsides, sandhills, or other dry, especially sandy soils. The plant is a low-growing mound that spreads along the ground and roots at nodes. The showy blooms are in clusters of many small rose-pink to purple flowers. The flowers are present spring through fall and deadheading will help keep the plant compact and attractive. In the north, it can be grown as an annual. It is drought and salt tolerant but may be damaged by deer. It is a short-lived perennial and will self-seed in the right conditions.
Plant Rose Verbena in well-drained soils in full sun and use as a ground cover, in a rock garden, in a container or in the front of the border to add season-long color.
Cultivars and hybrids are available in various colors of pink, purple, red and white. It may be difficult to find the straight species in the trade.
Wildlife Value: Flowers are very attractive to butterflies.
Quick ID
- Decumbent herb with opposite, pinnately-lobed leaves
- Inflorescence congested spike resembling an umbel
- flowers salverform purplish
- Calyx cylindrical with subulate lobes
Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems:
Some cultivars have shown good to excellent resistance to Phytophthora or Abiotic Disorder. See Phytophthora Root and Crown Rot in the Landscape.
- See this plant in the following landscapes:
- Colorful Borders Rock and Crevice Garden
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Homestead Purple'
Glowing purple flowers from late spring until fall. Excellent resistance to abiotic disorder; good resistance to Phytophthora.
- 'Homestead Purple'
- 'Homestead Purple'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Homestead Purple'
Glowing purple flowers from late spring until fall. Excellent resistance to abiotic disorder; good resistance to Phytophthora.
- 'Homestead Purple'
- 'Homestead Purple'
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Verbena
- Species:
- canadensis
- Family:
- Verbenaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- North America
- Distribution:
- AL , AR , CO , CT , FL , GA , IA , IL , IN , KS , KY , LA , MI , MN , MO , MS , NC , NE , NM , OH , OK , PA , SC , TN , TX , VA , WI , WV
- Wildlife Value:
- Nectar from the flowers attracts butterflies, hummingbirds, and other pollinators. Birds enjoy the fruits as a food source.
- Play Value:
- Attractive Flowers
- Attracts Pollinators
- Colorful
- Wildlife Cover/Habitat
- Wildlife Food Source
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- Some cultivars have good to excellent resistant to phytophthora or abiotic disorder.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 0 ft. 8 in. - 1 ft. 6 in.
- Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
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-
Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Ground Cover
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Native Plant
- Wildflower
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Semi-evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Horizontal
- Mounding
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- Medium
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Shallow Rocky
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b
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-
Fruit:
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Description:
- 4 nutlets per flower appear after bloom time. In North Carolina, fruits are available from July to September.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Pink
- Purple/Lavender
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Long Bloom Season
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Star
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- A dome-shaped cluster of 10-25 flowers up to 2½" across is produced at the apex of each spike. Each flower is about ¾" long and ½" across. Blooms April to Sept. in NC.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Semi-evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Leaf Shape:
- Lanceolate
- Obovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Dentate
- Lobed
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- The leaves are 2–4" long and ¾–3" across, becoming more narrow and slightly shorter as they ascend the stems. The leaves are often deeply to moderately divided into 3 primary lobes which are then divided into smaller secondary lobes with coarse teeth.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Purple/Lavender
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Surface:
- Hairy (pubescent)
- Stem Description:
- Stems creep along the surface, turned upward at ends; lateral branches ascending.
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-
Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Coastal
- Container
- Naturalized Area
- Slope/Bank
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Cottage Garden
- Native Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Rock Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Mass Planting
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Hummingbirds
- Pollinators
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Drought
- Heat
- Humidity
- Salt
- Problems:
- Short-lived
