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Verbena canadensis is often confused with:
Verbena aristigera Verbena tenuisecta
Verbena x hybrida Verbena x hybrida
Plants that fill a similar niche:
Viola pedata Viola pedata
Viola pubescens Form
Viola sororia Viola papilionacea
Verbena canadensis has some common disease problems:
Southern Bacterial Wilt on Herbaceous Ornamental Plants

Clump Verbena Verbena canadensis

Other 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:
Rock and Crevice Garden Mixed Perennial Border
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • 'Homestead Purple'
    Glowing purple flowers from late spring until fall. Excellent resistance to abiotic disorder; good resistance to Phytophthora.
'Homestead Purple'
Tags:
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Cultivars / Varieties:
  • 'Homestead Purple'
    Glowing purple flowers from late spring until fall. Excellent resistance to abiotic disorder; good resistance to Phytophthora.
'Homestead Purple'
Tags:
#purple#hummingbird friendly#evergreen#showy flowers#deciduous#full sun tolerant#small spaces#heat tolerant#drought tolerant#lavender#semi-evergreen#purple flowers#pink flowers#native perennials#blue flowers#salt tolerant#spring flowers#fall interest#cottage garden#showy fruits#moist soil#herbaceous#NC native#well-drained soil#perennial flowers#summer flowers#deer browsing plant#lavender flowers#herbaceous perennial#native garden#groundcover#fruits fall#summer interest#rock garden#cutting garden#spring interest#native groundcover#pollinator plant#native wildflower#wildflower garden#fantz#short lifespan#fruits summer#food source summer#forb#food source fall#sandhills#NC Native Pollinator Plant#food source nectar#small group plantings#sandy soils tolerant#bird friendly#dry soils tolerant#food source hard mast fruit#butterfly friendly#fruits early fall#partial shade tolerant#pink#Audubon#perennial#wildlife friendly#cpp
  • 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.
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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