Tall Verbena Verbena bonariensis
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- ver-BEE-nuh bon-ar-ee-EN-sis
- Description
-
Tall verbena is a tall upright plant with rounded clusters of small purple flowers, that measure 2 to 3 inches in diameter on long wispy stems. Each flower is about a 0.25-inch purple tube. The leaves are primarily at the base of the plant and form a mounded rosette of green, lance-shaped leaves with serrated margins. The main stem leaves of Tall Verbena have two expanded earlike lobes (auricles) just above the petiole. The similar V. brasiliensis lacks these lobes.
The plant is a tender perennial and is hardy from zones 7 to 11. In cooler climates, it is grown as an annual. It tolerates a variety of soil types, average to dry conditions, and full sun.
Tall verbena is native to South America but has naturalized in the United States from North Carolina to Florida and west to Texas. It is a weed that spreads by volunteer seedlings. Some sources have labeled it "invasive." Do not allow this species to spread into natural areas and become a problem.
Quick ID Hints:
- perennial up to 2 to 5 feet tall with wispy, wiry, tall stems from
- foliage at the base of the plant with green, lance-shaped leaves with serrated margins
- rounded clusters of purple flowers measuring 2 to 3 inches in diameter
- each bloom is a purple tube measuring 0.25 inches in length
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: This plant has no serious insect or disease problems although powdery mildew can occur. Weedy
VIDEO created by Andy Pulte for “Landscape Plant Identification, Taxonomy and Morphology” a plant identification course offered by the Department of Plant Sciences, University of Tennessee.
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscapes:
- Pollinator Garden in Full Sun Pollinator Garden in Partial Shade
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Lollipop'
Natural dwarf variety, grows to 2-3 feet tall.
- 'Lollipop'
- 'Lollipop'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Lollipop'
Natural dwarf variety, grows to 2-3 feet tall.
- 'Lollipop'
- 'Lollipop'
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Verbena
- Species:
- bonariensis
- Family:
- Verbenaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Root Cutting
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- South America
- Distribution:
- Southern USA
- Wildlife Value:
- Attracts butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds. Seeds are eaten by American goldfinches.
- Play Value:
- Attractive Flowers
- Attracts Pollinators
- Colorful
- Easy to Grow
- Dimensions:
- Height: 2 ft. 0 in. - 5 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 2 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Annual
- Perennial
- Weed
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- High
- Texture:
- Fine
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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 pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b, 11a, 11b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Brown seed capsules
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Purple/Lavender
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Cyme
- Panicle
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Good Cut
- Long Bloom Season
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Tubular
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Forms a dense flat-topped cluster of purple flowers spanning about 1-3" across. Individual flowers are about 1/4" across and 1/3" long.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Lanceolate
- Oblanceolate
- Leaf Margin:
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- Forms a basal clump of lance-shaped, dark green leaves up to 5 inches long. They become more sparse as they go up the stem.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Red/Burgundy
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Cross Section:
- Square
- Stem Surface:
- Hairy (pubescent)
- Stem Description:
- Thin but strong green stems with ridges and red markings down the ridges and short white hairs.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Meadow
- Naturalized Area
- Slope/Bank
- Small Space
- Walkways
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Children's Garden
- Cottage Garden
- Cutting Garden
- English Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Rock Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Mass Planting
- Small groups
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Butterflies
- Hummingbirds
- Pollinators
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Drought
- Dry Soil
- Poor Soil
- Rabbits
- Problems:
- Weedy
