Tall Verbena Verbena bonariensis
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- ver-BEE-nuh bon-ar-ee-EN-sis
- Description
-
Vervain is a tall upright plant considered a "pop-up" plant or "see-through" plant, filling in vertical space in the perennial border but allowing plants behind it to be seen. Its clusters of tiny lavender blooms persist early summer till frost and butterflies and bees love them. Yellow finches will visit them for the seeds. It tolerates a variety of soil types and average to dry conditions in full sun. They will spread by seeds but unwanted seedlings are easy to pull out.
Vervain is native to South America but has naturalized in the USA from NC south to FL and west to Texas.
- See this plant in the following landscapes:
- Pollinator Garden- Full Sun Pollinator Garden- Partial Shade Pollinator Garden- Full Sun Pollinator Garden- Partial Shade Pollinator Garden- Full Sun Pollinator Garden- Partial Shade Pollinator Garden- Full Sun Pollinator Garden- Partial Shade Plant Walls and Hedges
- 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:
- somewhat deer resistant
- Dimensions:
- Height: 4 ft. 0 in. - 6 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 1 ft. 6 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
-
-
Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Annual
- Perennial
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Medium
- Texture:
- Fine
-
-
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
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 7a, 7b, 8b, 8a, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b, 11b, 11a
-
-
Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Brown seed capsules
-
-
Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Purple/Lavender
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Cyme
- Panicle
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Long Bloom Season
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Star
- 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.
-
-
Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Lanceolate
- Oblanceolate
- Leaf Margin:
- Dentate
- 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.
-
-
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.
-
-
Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Meadow
- Naturalized Area
- Slope/Bank
- Small Space
- Walkways
- Landscape Theme:
- Cottage Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Rock Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Mass Planting
- Small groups
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Pollinators
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Dry Soil
- Poor Soil
- Problems:
- Weedy
