This garden resident has more than 200 species. Below we will consider what kind of verbena plant is, planting and care necessary for lush flowering, photos of various types. Since ancient times, the plant has carried some kind of mysticism. She protected the hearth of the Celts and was part of the love potions of the Druids.
Such a different verbena
Conventionally, representatives of the Verbenovs can be divided according to several criteria:
- There are annual, perennial and semi-shrub species.
- The stems are creeping, erect or prostrate. The leaves are also different.
- You can choose any color of the inflorescences - there are about 10 of them. There are plain flowers and flowers with an eye.
But all species also have common features. Verbena is a rhizomatous plant. About 50 small flowers are collected in an inflorescence. Flowering can be observed from early summer to November. In our climate, unfortunately, verbena can only be grown as an annual plant - most species cannot tolerate frosty winters.
Now let’s take a closer look at the popular types of verbena and look at photos of flowers.
Verbena perennial straight
This is the only plant species that tolerates frost. The leaves are oval-shaped with teeth along the edges, 9 by 5 cm. The flowers are lilac, the inflorescence is 40 cm long. Flowering is short-lived.
Verbena Buenos Aires
From the name it is clear that the plant’s homeland is in warm countries. There, Buenos Aires verbena reaches 120 cm and grows as a perennial. It has a main stem and side shoots at the base of the bush. The leaves are long, with toothed edges. The flowers are light lilac. Inflorescences are in the form of spikelets, which in turn form umbrella-shaped caps. Flowering is long and abundant. The second name is verbena bonarensis. 
Verbena hybrid
A popular species among flower growers in our region. It has creeping, branched or erect stems from 20 cm to half a meter long. The leaves are triangular in shape, with colorless bristles. Umbrella-shaped inflorescences, fragrant. Hybrid verbena can be of two subspecies:
- large-flowered (up to half a meter tall);
- compact (up to 30 cm in height).
Verbena ampelous
There are two main varieties of ampel verbena:
- Imaging;
- Moon River.
Most often, ampelous verbena is grown in hanging pots.
Verbena officinalis
Perennial medicinal verbena grows up to 80 cm. The leaves are oblong, the flowers are lilac, the inflorescence is in the form of a panicle.
Lemon verbena
It grows up to 2 meters in height, the inflorescence is spike-shaped. This species pleases with flowers from July to September. Most often, the variety is used to make oil and added to tea.
Medicinal properties of the plant
Verbena has medicinal properties and contraindications. The latter includes individual intolerance. There are many medicinal properties, they vary from species to species. Let's talk about two of the most popular.
Thus, verbena officinalis has an excellent antispasmodic effect. Besides:
- relieves headaches;
- helps with vegetative-vascular dystonia;
- normalizes blood pressure;
- diuretic;
- removes cholesterol from blood vessels.
Lemon verbena has an antiseptic effect and is used in the treatment of vegetative-vascular dystonia, as well as:
- sedative;
- antipyretic;
- used for liver disorders;
- helps with problems with the gastrointestinal tract;
- anti-inflammatory.
Planting verbena
Since we grow verbena as an annual plant, let's figure out how to grow it from seeds. In some cases, seed stratification is required for germination. To do this, you will need a damp cloth, a dark bag and a refrigerator. Place the seeds in a dampened cloth, place in a bag and leave in the refrigerator for 5 days.
The stratification procedure is necessary for those types of verbena that have a very dense seed capsule.
After stratification, you can begin sowing. Verbena seeds can be germinated either by seedlings or in open ground. By the way, the first method showed greater germination.
Verbena seeds remain viable for 3-5 years.
In many types of verbena, the percentage of seed germination is up to 30%. It’s worth taking this into account and not expecting a miracle. Seeds for seedlings are sown in March. You need to prepare pots with humus, sand or perlite mixed with soil. Next, the seeds are poured in and covered with a thin layer of humus. The containers need to be covered with glass and germinated at a temperature of 20 degrees.
Do not forget to sometimes ventilate the seedlings and remove condensation from the glass.
The first shoots will appear in 3 weeks. As soon as they appear, the container should be moved to a cooler place. 
Caring for seedlings is simple - you need to maintain water balance. Plants are sprayed when the soil is completely dry.
When the seedlings have two pairs of leaves (around May), you need to pick them into separate pots. When the plants have already gotten used to the new place, you can fertilize.
In ampelous varieties, the top above the 5-6th leaf needs to be pinched. This promotes better branching of the plant.
When the seedlings have already grown, they can be placed in open ground. A sunny location with fertile loam is best. But verbena can also grow in partial shade on poor soils dug up with sand.
It is important to maintain a distance between flowers so that they do not interfere with the normal development of each other. Thus, low-growing verbenas are planted at a distance of 20 cm, and creeping ones - 25-30 cm.
To avoid harmful stagnation of water, drainage material must be added to each hole before planting.
Verbena planting and care in open ground occurs as follows. The temperature outside should already be above 0 during the day, and at night not lower than -3. Otherwise, the plant will die. Make sure that the soil with the seeds is loose - this is the only way the sprouts can break through.
You need to sow on moist soil, do not sprinkle on top. Also, do not forget about timely watering, but do not over-moisten the soil.
How to care for verbena
The rules for caring for the plant are quite simple:
- During the period of active growth and flowering, regular watering is needed. From the end of summer it is stopped completely.
- Loosening is necessary in extreme heat. This is done only after watering to aerate the roots.
- When planting verbena in a group, weeding is necessary during the first period of growth.
- To avoid fighting weeds and loosening the soil, mulch the soil. Mulch will replace your labor.
As for fertilizer, organic matter and minerals are added. The first is added only once per season. If you fertilize with more organic matter, the verbena will only grow the green part, but you will not get flowering. Mineral fertilizer is applied 4 times.
When you remove faded flowers, verbena will delight you with its beauty and aroma until the first frost.
Dangers to the plant
Verbena is quite persistent and, if the rules of planting and care are followed, it looks like in the photo and practically does not get sick. The danger arises when growing outdoors in a flowerbed in a rainy summer or when it is overwatered. This is how black leg, rot and other similar diseases may appear. That is, the plant will simply begin to rot. Such diseases are quite difficult to cure, so try to avoid waterlogging of the soil and organize good drainage.
Among the pests, mites and aphids can attack verbena. Insecticides will save you from them.
Collecting verbena seeds
When most of the seed pods have turned brown, the seeds are ready to be harvested. To do this, you need to cut off the inflorescence and put it on a sheet of paper to dry. To prevent mold from appearing during drying, the inflorescence must be turned over periodically. When the inflorescence dries, all that remains is to open the boxes and pour the seeds into the bag.
There is no guarantee that the seeds will carry the species of the mother plant. It is impossible to guess what exactly will grow out of them.
Overwintering verbena
Most species in our climate grow as annuals, since at temperatures below -3 degrees the plant dies. In this case, in late autumn, plant debris is removed and the soil is dug up.
In some regions, you can try making verbena perennial. To do this, you need to insulate the root system with sawdust in the fall.
There is only one species that can withstand wintering - perennial erect verbena. This is a rather rare plant in cultivation that needs preparation for winter. To keep the roots healthy until spring, you need to cut the stems to ground level and cover the base of the bush with spruce branches.
Decorating your garden with verbena of any variety, you definitely won’t regret it. This beautiful and useful plant is not whimsical, beautiful and fragrant.
Verbena from sowing to the first buds - video
Verbena, a cult plant of the Druids and Celts, is also called “cast iron grass”, “tears of Juno”, “blood of Mercury”, “veins of Venus”, “grass of Hercules”, and is revered as the guardian of the hearth and prosperity. Planting and caring for verbena is a kind of ritual, the implementation of the rules of which will decorate the garden plot with long-term flowering of the charming flower.
Preparing to plant verbena
“Cast iron grass” is unpretentious and easy to grow if you follow a number of rules. We will tell you how to care for a planted flower in the article.
Landing dates
Verbena in temperate latitudes of Russia is planted in flower beds using seedlings. Small seeds are sown at the turn of winter and spring - in late February or early March. The seeds germinate quite quickly, sprouts appear at the end of the second week, but the heat-loving flower must get stronger before being planted in the open air.
In warm southern regions, seeds are sown in open ground, the recommended time is the end of April. They focus on specific weather conditions - night temperatures should not fall below -3°C, daytime temperatures should remain consistently above zero. Strong grown seedlings are planted in flower beds in the last ten days of May, when warm weather finally sets in.
Choosing a location on the site
Verbena loves warmth and favors direct sunlight. For planting, choose areas that are illuminated by the sun almost all day long, or semi-shaded corners. Like all southerners, she does not like drafts, so the growing area should be protected from the wind.
Note! For verbena officinalis, the place where it grows is of particular importance, since it is intended for internal use.
The distance from the roadway should be more than 50 m; a green “wall” is desirable to protect the plantings from city dust.
Soil preparation
“Cast iron grass” is not too picky about the soil. Fertile loams are an ideal substrate, but verbena develops and blooms normally on depleted sandy soils. Main soil requirements:
- neutral;
- breathable;
- well drained.
The soil is prepared before planting as follows:
- dig to a depth of 20-30 cm;
- if necessary, deoxidize with dolomite flour or wood ash;
- depleted soil is fertilized with compost;
- dense clay soil is diluted with coarse sand.
Selection and preparation of planting material
On a note! In our country, “Hercules grass” is grown as an annual, since it freezes in winter, with the exception of the “perennial straight”, “lemon” and “medicinal” species.
Let's briefly look at the types of verbena, the seeds of which are sold in stores, and their descriptions. V. hybrid (verbena hebridia) or finely dissected - the most popular among flower growers. Compact plant, creeping stems, height up to 50 cm. Flowers of different colors. Conventionally divided into two lines:
- large-flowered (varieties “Etna”, “Julia”, “Cardinal”);
- compact (varieties “amethyst”, “pink delight”, “crystal”).
V. Canadian - up to 20 cm tall, flowers of white, lilac, pink and their shades. V. Buenos Aires (Bonar) - height up to 120 cm, small, lilac flowers.
V. hanging for hanging flower pots. The length of the hanging shoots is 50-60 cm, forms compact inflorescences. V. perennial straight - reaches one and a half meters in height, has long, up to 40 cm, inflorescences with lilac flowers. Frost-resistant species. Planting and caring for perennial verbena is simple; the technique is similar to growing other species. V. officinalis, 80 cm tall. It is valued for its beneficial properties: it stabilizes blood pressure, cleanses the blood and improves its composition, has antiviral, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects, and normalizes metabolism.
On a note! Verbena officinalis acquires maximum healing properties during flowering; harvesting for future use begins in the second ten days of August.
V. lemon reaches a height of 2 m, is usually used as an essential oil plant, dried leaves and inflorescences are used to prepare health teas.
Yellow verbena is perennial, the shoots are creeping, the color of the flowers is varied. Abundant, long-lasting flowering depends on the quality of planting material. Domestic seed producers with an excellent reputation are “Aelita”, “Gavrish”, “SeDek”, “Poisk”, “Siberian Garden”. You can collect the seeds yourself: seed pods are collected from faded shoots; mature ones are colored brown. The collected raw materials are dried at room temperature, and then the seeds are extracted. Shelf life – up to 5 years.
Remember! Such seeds often do not inherit the varietal properties of their parents.
Pre-sowing seed preparation:
- Stratification - the seeds are wrapped in a damp cloth, placed in a bag and stored in the cold for 5 days.
- Soaking in warm water for 1 to 3 days. You can use a stimulant solution (soaking time according to the instructions).
How to plant seedlings correctly
Algorithm for planting seedlings:
- In the prepared area, holes are dug, the dimensions of which correspond to the earthen dimensions of the seedling ball, the depth is slightly greater.
- The bottom of the hole is covered with drainage - pebbles or fine expanded clay.
- Pour 0.5 liters of water into each hole if the soil is dry.
- Seedlings with a lump of earth are placed in a hole.
- Add soil, lightly tamping.
Distance between bushes:
- compact forms – 20-25 cm;
- creeping – 25-30 cm.
Garden care
Caring for “cast iron grass” in the garden is not difficult: timely watering, fertilizing, and soil treatment will ensure long-lasting, abundant flowering.
Watering frequency and water quality requirements
Flowers need regular, moderate watering; stagnation of moisture or drying out of the soil is unacceptable. The first half of summer is characterized by active growth of bushes, so verbena is watered every 3-4 days in the absence of precipitation. Dry periods accompanied by intense heat require daily watering, but the amount of water for each plant is reduced. From mid-July they gradually reduce it, and by the beginning of autumn they stop completely. Water for irrigation is preferably soft - rain, warmed up in the sun. Tap water is used after allowing it to sit for several days.
Selection and schedule of fertilizing
Organic matter is added once - in the spring, two weeks after planting in open ground. The optimal composition of the first feeding: 1 liter of mullein solution and 1 tbsp. a spoonful of potassium sulfate is diluted in 10 liters of warm water. Before flowering begins, it is recommended to feed every 12-15 days, using a solution of Agricola and nitrophoska (1 tablespoon each) per 10 liters of water. Consumption rate – 2.5-3 l/sq.m. The addition of minerals is possible throughout the season; ready-made complexes are used - “Kemira”, “Agricola”, “Fertika”, about which gardeners give positive reviews.
Mulching and loosening the soil
Loosen the soil regularly, usually after each watering, to improve root aeration. According to common practice, loosening is necessary while the plant is gaining strength. When the root system grows, the procedure is carried out less frequently. Young plants are weeded weekly until they grow; weeds in single plantings are removed throughout the season. Mulching facilitates the work of caring for verbena in open ground: weeds do not have the opportunity to grow, moisture is better retained. The simplest option is rotted leaves.
On a note! Mulching with decorative materials gives verbena growing in the garden additional glamor.
Pinching
The pinching procedure increases the branching of the bushes. The first time the seedlings are pinched at the stage of 5-6 leaves. Subsequent pinching is done as needed if the plant produces few lateral branches. Be sure to remove faded shoots so that the plant's forces are directed to the formation of new buds, the flowering period is extended until frost. Planting and caring for perennial verbena is carried out using a similar technology. A few words about wintering verbena. In open ground, perennial erect verbena, officinalis and lemon verbena, and yellow verbena can withstand frosty winters. Before the onset of cold weather, plant stems are cut at soil level and the base of the bush is covered using dry leaves, spruce branches, and sawdust.
In the fall, other types of verbena are dealt with as with annuals: the dry residues are disposed of and the ground is dug up. Some of the bushes are transplanted into pots to be used as sources for obtaining cuttings.
Pest protection
Verbena itself has stable immunity against pest attacks. If the rules of care are not followed, it may be attacked by aphids or spider mites. Insecticides are used against them or they are fought with folk remedies.
Disease Prevention
Verbena gets sick very rarely. It is affected by fungal diseases: powdery mildew, blackleg, etc. This happens when the watering and feeding regimes are systematically violated. If you notice the first symptoms, use fungicides. For prevention, bushes are sprayed monthly with a weak solution of potassium permanganate or watered with water infused with ash.
Reproduction methods
Like most flowering perennials, verbena is propagated in three ways: by growing from seeds, by cuttings and by dividing the bush.
Note! Dividing the bush is practiced only for the propagation of verbena officinalis. It is not recommended to divide bushes of other types.
Verbena propagation by cuttings
The method is used for propagation of varieties that do not produce seeds, rare or valuable hybrids. Cutting algorithm:
- The mother bush is dug up in the fall with soil (the larger the earthen lump, the better) and placed in a pot.
- The container is placed in a cool room - a basement or a heated balcony is suitable.
- In early March, cuttings are cut - the tops of shoots with 10-12 leaves. The lower cut is 1 cm from the lower bud.
- Remove all leaves except the top pair.
- For rooting, use containers with drainage and a substrate consisting of sand or its mixture with peat.
- The cuttings are buried 1 cm into the moistened substrate. A mini-greenhouse is made.
The root system of the cuttings will begin to grow in about 20 days. The appearance of new leaves or shoots is a sign that rooting went well.
Caring for cuttings is similar to caring for seedlings.
On a note! You can grow verbena not only in a flower bed, but also at home on a well-lit windowsill. Cuttings for planting can be cut at any time.
Planting of cuttings in flower beds is carried out within the time limits and according to the rules provided for seedlings.
Propagation by seeds
Seed germination algorithm:
- Pre-sowing treatment (see above).
- Seeds are sown in the second half of March. Seeds sown earlier require additional lighting. If sown later, verbena will begin to bloom in mid-July.
- The container for sowing needs to be shallow, with drainage holes.
- The substrate is light, loose, moisture-permeable; Fertility is not required from him. Use universal soil for seedlings, to which sand or vermiculite is added. Before sowing, be sure to disinfect.
- The substrate is moistened and the seeds are spread on the surface.
- The seedling container is covered with film or glass and placed in a warm (+25°) place. The level of illumination at the first stage is not important.
- When the seeds germinate, the container is moved to a cool (+17°C), well-lit place.
- The crops are regularly ventilated, condensation is removed from the lid, and if necessary, the substrate is moistened with a spray bottle.
- The lid is finally removed when the seedlings form the first pair of true leaves.
A multi-colored “lawn” of verbena is grown not only in flower beds. The flower develops well at home, decorating the interior. Flowers look great on the balconies of city houses - bright, fragrant oases that delight the eye. The ampelous species, grown in hanging pots, is placed on verandas, terraces, and gazebos are decorated. Planting and caring for verbena in open ground does not require much effort. Unpretentiousness and ease of care make the flower a desirable garden decoration. Proper care of the flower will allow it to bloom profusely before the first frost arrives.
in the garden - a great addition to any landscape design. Bright flowers, richly colored leaves - all this is verbena. The plant comes from the tropical regions of America, a representative of the Verbenaceae family, which has more than 200 species of various flowers. Different peoples call verbena differently: “herb of Hercules”, “veins of Venus” or “blood of Mercury”.
Sowing verbena seeds for seedlings
Verbena can be propagated in several ways: seeds or cuttings. The flower is becoming very popular in gardening, and knowing how to properly plant verbena seedlings is very important.
Verbena seeds, depending on the type, can be “wrapped” in a thick shell, which noticeably slows down the process of their germination.
You can collect verbena seeds after the flower has bloomed, use the extracted seed material, or buy seeds.
Did you know?If you decide to use your own seeds, remember that varietal characteristics may be lost, and if you decide to use purchased ones, make sure that they do not have the F1 mark - this is how hybrid varieties are usually designated.
So, before planting the seeds, you need to stratify them in order to improve the quality of seedlings.
Seed stratification - a very simple procedure that involves cold treatment of seed material. Stratify the seeds in the refrigerator, in the vegetable compartment. They are laid out on a damp cloth, covered with another piece of damp cloth, wrapped in plastic or placed in a container and refrigerated for several days.
After the seeds have undergone stratification, they can be sown either in open ground immediately (seedless method), or planted as seedlings.
It is best to sow seeds for seedlings in March (second decade). They are placed in shallow containers with humus, perlite or sand: the soil should not be too fertilized. Seeds are sown without burying them in the ground. The container with the seeded material must be covered with a transparent lid; polyethylene or glass is suitable for this.
You will notice the first shoots within a couple of days. After this, the container must be moved to a cooler place and very well lit. After 2-3 mature leaves appear, the cover is removed.
Important!During the period when the seeds are just germinating, the film (glass) must be constantly removed for ventilation, and watering at this time is best done using a spray bottle.
After removing the cover, young verbena can be planted in separate pots, deepening the seedlings to the cotyledon leaves. After 2 weeks, the first feeding is carried out, and the plant can be planted in a new place. In the northern zone, verbena is grown as an annual.
Planting seedlings in open ground
Once the weather is warm and there are no more frosts, verbena can be planted in open ground. In the middle zone, planting is carried out in mid-May. It is better to choose a place for verbena that is well lit and protected from cold winds and drafts.
If the plant gets direct sunlight, it’s not scary, verbena will cope with it perfectly. Any soil is suitable for verbena, but it should be loose and, preferably, loamy. A layer of drainage will not be superfluous, which will prevent stagnation of water; also, you should not use soil with a high content of humus.
Did you know?If the soil is “acidic”, it can be mixed with ash or dolomite flour, and this will reduce the acidity.
The algorithm for planting verbena is very simple:
The distance between the bushes should be 20-25 cm so that the plants do not interfere with each other. Combination of verbena with other plants
Verbena flower beds - a great solution for those who want to decorate their garden. Considering the fact that verbena has thousands of color options, it can be combined with almost all garden flowers, or you can decorate your lawn with it, where it will stand out as a bright spot of color.
Verbena goes well with daisies; together they form a sweet and fragrant composition. In combination with marigolds, the composition will turn out to be childishly touching. An impressive ensemble is made up of verbena and roses.
It also looks beautiful with such simple and familiar plants as rudbeckia, cosma, and delphinium. Together they form a composition with a very exotic appearance. Verbena can grow not only in a flowerbed, but also in pots, and looks very good in them.
The process of caring for verbena itself is simple, however, it must be carried out comprehensively. Verbena requires abundant watering, but does not tolerate stagnant water. It needs to be watered especially carefully during the period of active growth and reduce the dose of water in the second half of summer.
Important!If you notice that the soil has begun to dry out, it is necessary to loosen the soil.
If your verbena is growing in a group planting, you only need to remove weeds before the bushes grow, but if you grow verbena alone, you need to clear it of weeds throughout the season. There is one secret: if you mulch the soil with leaves or any other material, then you do not need to weed the flower.
Fertilizing verbena needs to be done comprehensively. Organic fertilizers can be applied only once, because otherwise the soil may be overloaded with nitrogen substances. There are no restrictions on the application of complex mineral fertilizers, and they can be applied 1-2 times a month. "Agricolor" has a particularly good effect on growth.
Care also involves ridding the plant of dried inflorescences. If you have properly cared for verbena, it will delight you not only with beautiful blooms, but also with a pleasant aroma.
Collection and storage of seeds
Usually in our area, verbena is used as an annual plant, and after flowering it is cut off, and the soil where the flower grew is dug up. D To collect seeds from your own plants, you need to use the inflorescences when most of the flower boxes have already begun to dry.
Did you know?You can determine the readiness of the seeds by color: the box will turn brown.
The inflorescence selected for “obtaining” seeds must be placed on a flat, flat surface and dried. During the drying period, the material must be turned over so that the raw material does not start to become damp.
When the inflorescence dries, the seeds need to be extracted from the nuts and poured into a paper bag. Don't forget to sign it, indicating the date of collection and variety. If you decide to breed verbena on your own, do not forget that homemade seeds lose their varietal characteristics and may differ from their “parents”.
How to use verbena in landscape design
Verbena is becoming increasingly popular in landscape design. It looks very beautiful in plantings, which among designers are called “bouquet effect” - it looks especially attractive with large flowers of roses and scrubs. In landscape design, the flower is used in both group and single plantings.
Verbena is a flower that was known two thousand years ago. Their delicate lemon aroma, wide variety of colors and amazing unpretentiousness are known to many gardeners. The process of growing these flowers is simple, but requires some knowledge. We’ll talk about when to sow verbena, how to care for it and much more later in this article.
Botanical description of the plant
Verbena flowers belong to the Verbena family. Their homeland is South America. The height of the plant's shoots varies from 20 cm to 1.5 m. They have opposite short-petioled leaves. Verbena has a strong and extremely branched root system. The plant's stems are most often erect, but there are also species with lodging ones. They are covered with fuzzy green skin. The leaves have serrated edges and an oval shape. Short pile is noticeable on them.
At the beginning of July, verbena throws out paniculate or corymbose inflorescences, consisting of 30-50 buds, which bloom alternately. Small five-lobed corollas can reach 25 mm in diameter. The photo of verbena shows that it can be painted in different colors: white, blue, pink, yellow, lilac, red and their derivative shades.
Main types
Today there are more than 250 different varieties and hybrids of this plant. We will talk only about the most popular of them. Hybrid verbena is divided into two groups. One of them includes compact flowers such as “crystal”, “pink delight”, “amethyst” and others. The second group is represented by plants with rather large inflorescences. For example, it includes “defiance”, “etna”, “Julia”, etc.
In city flower beds or garden plots you can most often find the following types of verbena:
- Canadian. In Russia, it is grown as an annual flower, the stems of which are short - only 20 cm. This verbena can be colored lilac, white or pink.
- Buenos Aires. The height of straight and strong stems often reaches 1.2 m. They all extend exclusively from the base of the plant. Inflorescences appear on it simultaneously. This species has an amethyst hue.
- Ampelnaya. Verbena, which is ideally suited both for vertical gardening and for planting in hanging pots. The stems grow no more than 60 cm in length. It has small inflorescences with small flowers of various shades.
- Tough. This verbena is colored lilac. The leaves are fleecy and slightly elongated. Its stems spread along the ground and have a tetrahedral shape. The seeds of such verbena can be stored for quite a long time - about 4-5 years.
Most common varieties
Gardeners really like this flower, so they often decorate their flower beds with it. There is nothing surprising. After all, once you see verbena in a photo, you can immediately fall in love with this lovely flower. The most popular plant varieties are:
- Amethyst. Its buds appear with the onset of July. The low bushes of the plant amaze with the beauty of their inflorescences, which have a bright blue tint.
- Defiance. Can grow up to 30 cm in height. Most often, the inflorescences are colored red. They can fade when exposed to sunlight.
- Etna. The height of the bushes does not exceed 45 cm. The inflorescence resembles a small umbrella. Each of them consists of approximately 50 flowers.
- F1 Obsession. This name combines several different varieties, distinguished by their compactness and the rapid growth of numerous side shoots. The color of their inflorescences is varied, ranging from beige to pink tones. Often this verbena has two-color flowers.
- Silver Anna. Has a pleasant aroma. The bright pink flowers of the plant form a dense inflorescence, but by the end of summer they begin to fade. This variety is bred only by cuttings.
- Pink parfait. This is a low-growing variety with creeping shoots, which is ideal for vertical gardening. Its flowers can be either red or white with a cream tint.
Ways to grow verbena
The most common is planting seeds. When purchasing, you should immediately pay attention to their expiration dates, since they may differ for different types. Experienced gardeners recommend purchasing seeds only in specialized stores.
You can sow hard verbena and Buenos Aires verbena directly into open ground. This is done at the end of spring, when the air temperature rises to +18 ⁰C. The remaining species must first be germinated at home and then planted in open ground.
Reproduction by cuttings
Growing verbena in this way is not often done, since this activity is more troublesome than sowing seeds. But let’s consider this process in more detail. In order to begin propagating a plant by cuttings, it must first be carefully dug up, along with a lump of earth, and left in a room where the air temperature is around +10 ⁰C. Everyone does this in the fall.
With the onset of spring, the tops of the shoots must be cut off so that four or six pairs of leaves remain on them. Areas damaged in this way must be treated with crushed charcoal. After this, the cuttings can be planted in a mixture of peat and sand so that its level reaches the lower leaves. These are then removed, leaving only one or two pairs at the top. Having completed this procedure, it is advisable to cover the plant with a transparent film. Verbena usually takes root within one month.
Growing from seeds
To do this correctly, you need to know a few basic nuances of planting them at home:
- The best time to plant verbena seeds is March and early April because they require at least 11-12 hours of daylight to germinate well. In winter it is very short, so the seedlings will germinate slowly.
- The seeds are not buried in the ground, but scattered evenly over a moistened surface.
- In order for the seeds to hatch within two days, the room temperature should be about +24 ⁰C. After the sprouts appear, the containers with seedlings should be removed to a cooler place, where it will not exceed +18 ⁰C.
- It is better to water from a spray bottle. This way, a stream of water will not be able to damage the delicate roots of the seedlings. Watering should be dosed, since flowers (verbena) do not like excessive moisture.
How to care for seedlings
There is nothing complicated here, but this process requires some knowledge. After picking, the plants need to be given time to take root securely. After about two weeks, the seedlings can already be fed. After four or five leaves appear on the plant, pinch off the top part. This promotes the germination of side shoots.
Two or three weeks before planting verbena in open ground, young seedlings must be hardened off, because such plants adapt faster to the street. To do this, the boxes with seedlings need to be taken out into the fresh air for a short time. After just a week, they are left all day, bringing them into the house only at night.
Selection of site, soil and drainage
First of all, you need to find a place to plant seedlings. Verbena can grow anywhere, for example in an area where early plants such as daffodils or tulips have already bloomed. However, the most luxurious flowers will grow where there is the greatest amount of light. Verbena is not afraid of direct sunlight, as it does not wither in the heat and practically does not fade.
It grows well on loamy fertile soils, as well as on other soils, provided that they are loose and have high water permeability. Verbena can take root well even on more unfavorable soil; you just need to mix river sand with it. To remove excess water from the flowerbed, it is necessary to organize drainage. The following materials are perfect for this:
- crushed stone;
- broken brick;
- expanded clay;
- small fragments of cobblestones.
Such a layer will eliminate excess moisture and protect the roots of the plant from rotting. Properly organized drainage will not allow water to stagnate for a long time.
Planting in open ground
The first step is to prepare the holes. They are made at a distance of about half a meter from each other, while between the rows it should be a little larger - about 0.7 m. A special nutrient mixture must be poured into the holes, which should include river sand, humus and peat. If the soil is depleted, it is worth adding a mineral complex fertilizer to the listed components.
As for planting seeds directly into open ground, they are evenly distributed into pre-made grooves, the distance between which should be more than 0.7 m. Two weeks after the first shoots appear, young plants need to be fed using mineral fertilizers for this purpose. liquid fertilizer. In the future you will have to do this several more times:
- after the buds appear;
- when all the inflorescences open;
- after flowering has stopped.
How to care for a plant in open ground
Growing flowers does not take much time because they do not require any special care. Verbena does not tolerate excessive moisture, but it will have to be watered all season - from the time it is planted in the ground until flowering stops. However, you should not loosen wet soil. The only exception may be dry, hot summers. In this case, loosening is necessary because it improves oxygen access to the roots. To prevent moisture from evaporating too quickly, sawdust or other mulching material is poured under the plants.
It is necessary to apply organic fertilizers such as compost and rotted manure correctly and in the right quantities, since they contain a lot of nitrogen, which stimulates the development of green mass and prevents the formation of inflorescences. They are often introduced in the spring to improve shoot growth. Subsequently, feeding the shoots is carried out exclusively with mineral fertilizers.
It is necessary to fight weeds in the flower beds where the verbena garden flower grows only at the initial stage. When the bushes increase in size, they will fill the entire space. From now on, they themselves will prevent the appearance of unwanted plants.
Verbena in a flowerbed
Low-growing varieties of this plant are widely used in landscape design as a green border. Verbena looks great in a flower bed with other flowers. For example, in combination with camellias, it can decorate the paths of the front garden. The best effect can be achieved by mass planting verbena. It can also be diluted with various ornamental grains, echinacea, asters and marigolds.
Due to the fact that verbena blooms for quite a long time and also has a wide variety of shades, it can often be seen in flower beds planted near multi-story buildings. In addition to the listed flowers, it will look great next to annual plants, such as cosmos and cornflower, as well as perennials: delphinium, roses of various varieties and rudbeckia.
Verbena is also successfully used for vertical gardening. It is planted in pots or hanging flowerpots, which are then placed in winter gardens, on terraces and balconies. For these purposes, ampelous verbena is best suited.
Medicinal properties
This flower is not only beautiful, but also useful. It contains many vitamins, microelements and essential oils, as well as glycosides and flavonoids. That is why verbena flowers are also a medicinal plant, from which various preparations are prepared in the form of decoctions, tinctures, etc. It has disinfecting, diaphoretic and choleretic properties. It is also used for muscle spasms, inflammation, fever and colds.
A sprig of verbena added to tea will help you quickly cope with depression, insomnia, fatigue, hysteria and nervous tension. The plant is also used to prepare lotions, which are made for scabies, eczema, furunculosis and rashes.
However, there are also contraindications. For example, pregnant women should not take medications that contain verbena, as it can increase muscle tone, and this can lead to premature birth. It is also not recommended for nursing mothers to do this; you should first consult your doctor. People prone to various types of allergic reactions should also be careful with such drugs.
The photos of the wonderful verbena are mesmerizing and make you want to plant this flower in your garden. With proper care, verbena grown in open ground or in pots will delight you with flowering until frost.
Description of verbena
Verbena is a perennial, highly branched plant belonging to the Verbena family. The flower comes from South America. In open ground it is often grown as an annual plant. Verbena can survive winter only in the southern regions due to the low threshold of resistance to prolonged frosts.
Depending on the type, the height of the verbena bush ranges from 20 cm to a meter or more. The stems have a straightened or creeping appearance, and can also be leafless and with drooping edges. Verbena leaves are shaggy, oval or round in shape with jagged edges, and light green in color. The root system is compact. Small flowers are collected in complex umbels of inflorescences. Varieties of verbena come in all sorts of colors: white, pink, lilac, purple, sometimes with a white eye.
Verbena blooms in June and delights with flowering until late autumn. Up to 30 inflorescences can bloom on a bush at the same time. Tolerates frosts down to -3ºС.
Varieties of verbena
Verbena selection includes about 250 species, each of which has its own characteristics.
Hybrid verbena- the most popular variety among flower growers. The bush is compact, highly branched with creeping stems, up to 50 cm high. The flowers are of rich, varied colors.
According to varietal differences, hybrid verbena is conventionally divided into groups:
- Large-flowered (“Etna”, “Defias”, “Julia”, “Cardinal”).
- Compact (“Amethyst”, “Crystal”, “Dazler”, “Pink Delight”).
Canadian verbena– grown as an annual. The stems are thin, reaching a maximum height of 20 cm. The plant blooms profusely with white, pink or lilac flowers.
Hard Verbena– characterized by small lilac flowers in inflorescences. The leaves are elongated, with fibers below. Stems are tetrahedral, creeping. The germination of ripened seeds lasts up to 5 years.
Buenos Aires verbena– a tall representative (up to 120 cm). Stems are strong and erect. Side shoots extend from the base of the bush. At the same time, many small amethyst-colored flowers bloom on the bush, which are collected in caps of inflorescences.
Ampel verbena- a fast-growing annual species. Used for growing in hanging pots. The shoots grow up to 60 cm and hang down spectacularly. The inflorescences are compact with small flowers of various colors.
The presented photos demonstrate the beauty and diversity of verbena varieties.
Separately, we can highlight medicinal and lemon verbena. These are perennial bushes, the flowers of which have medicinal properties and are used to stabilize blood pressure, as antispasmodics, for intestinal disorders. Verbena oil serves as an antiseptic.
Growing and planting verbena seedlings
Verbena is planted as seedlings in open ground. Its seeds are very small and are sown superficially in late February - early March. The seeds are evenly distributed over the soil surface. The sown seedling containers are covered with jars or film, thereby creating a mini-greenhouse. Shoots appear after two weeks, after which the shelter is removed and the containers are placed on the brightest windowsill.
Important! To avoid damage to seedlings by blackleg, young sprouts are only sprayed with a spray bottle.
The first true leaves appear after about three weeks. During this period, seedlings are planted in boxes at a distance of 2-3 cm from each other. Two weeks after picking, the seedlings are fed with complex mineral fertilizer.
When the seedlings reach 8-10 cm in height, they are transplanted into separate cups, and the tops are pinched for greater branching.
The grown seedlings are planted in open ground at the end of May. Plantings are possible in June (by this time the seedlings usually already have blossomed inflorescences). The site for planting verbena is sunny and moderately fertilized. The distance between plants should be at least 25 cm.
Verbena propagation by cuttings
Rare varieties of verbena that do not produce seeds can be propagated by cuttings. With this method of propagation, all the qualities of the mother bush will be preserved. Procurement of planting material begins in autumn. To do this, the mother bush is dug up with a large ball of earth and placed in a cool room (for example, in a basement) for the winter.
In early spring, the tops of shoots with 4-6 pairs of leaves are cut off for cuttings. The lower incision is made at a distance of 1 cm from the outermost kidney. All leaves except the top two are removed.
Cuttings are germinated in containers with sand or sand-peat mixture. The planting material is deepened to the first bud (i.e. 1 cm). The substrate in containers should always remain moist. To do this, cover the containers with cuttings.
Within three weeks, the cuttings will begin to develop a root system, after which new shoots will begin to grow. Rooted cuttings should be planted in open ground at the same time as seedlings.
Verbena care
Planting and caring for verbena is very simple and does not require special skills. Verbena bushes are responsive to intense light and tolerate direct sunlight. Watering is required moderate but regular. In the spring, when the seedlings have not yet gained sufficient strength and strength, watering is carried out more often and more abundantly. Watering is gradually reduced, and by autumn it is stopped altogether.
Verbena is fed with mineral fertilizers several times a season. Manure as a fertilizer does not give the desired result, but only promotes abundant growth of green mass without flowers. Excess fertilizer in the soil leads to poor flowering.
Loosening the soil is required only at the initial stage of verbena growth. Later, when the crop grows, there will be no need for weeding. To retain moisture in areas, instead of weeding, you can use mulching. Rotted leaves are used as mulch.
Advice. For a spectacular look of a flower bed with verbena, you can use decorative mulching materials.
For abundant and long flowering throughout the summer, you need to trim off the wilted buds.
Verbena is practically not affected by diseases and pests. Rare aphid infestations are controlled with insecticides.
Use in landscape design
In landscape design, low-growing varieties of verbena are used as a green border. In combination with buddleias or camellias, a decorative border will decorate the paths and become a striking element when zoning the garden.
The long flowering and variety of colors of verbena will decorate works and flower beds. In flower beds, the greatest effect from verbena flowering is achieved with mass plantings. You can dilute the plantings with marigolds, echinocea, ornamental cereals,...
Ampel varieties of verbena will decorate balconies, terraces, etc. In hanging pots, verbena grows quickly, forming a huge flowering ball.
Photos of competent landscape design or your own imagination can prompt you to experiment with joint plantings of verbena.
You can find verbena in the gardens of both experienced gardeners and beginners. Abundant flowering of verbena in tandem with minimal care will allow even a novice amateur to create a real extravaganza in the garden.
Planting and growing verbena: video
Varieties and types of verbena: photos
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