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 ith the exception of perhaps one species which, because of its unique bearing and fabulous late season purple glow, is well able to grab the spotlight for itself, verbenas are stalwarts of the garden's vital chorus line. Their flowering longevity and easy going, undemanding ways have equipped them well for a multitude of supporting roles in containers and borders alike. There aren't many gardeners that grow vervain (Verbena officinalis) as the Victorians did "to tie with a white ribbon around the neck of a sickly child in the hope it would bring a cure", we look instead to the newly improved hybrids for better decorative effects.
Their huge variety of colours range from pure white through soft pinks, mauves and magenta to the sort of violet blue commonly found in campanulas and gentians. Most of the 250 or so species are not blessed with full hardiness, but gardeners all over the country are finding that with some shelter from icy blasts or continual winter rains many will survive to bloom another year. |
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And if you bother to insure against loss by taking a few cuttings to overwinter in a frame or frost free greenhouse you can easily keep a string of favourites in plentiful supply.
Slugs are fond of verbenas, and powdery mildew in a wet season can be a problem, but good gardening practices can help to restrain these inhibitors. |
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 erbenas are not for shade or the woodland garden; most have their origins in the warmer parts of North, Central and South America, indicating a preference, in Britain, for a light, open and well drained situations. These requirements have given them near perfect tolerance of tubs and containers, many of which are often sited in places which must also endure day long sunshine plus the radiated heat of brick or stone walls.
Verbenas carry their flowers in clusters at the end of (mostly) lax stems, and the stems are square, not round. New growth, and new flowering heads, are encouraged by cutting back the spent clusters, and in this way the season can be extended over several months. Like all plants grown in restricted places, verbenas in pots will benefit from a tomato (flower inducing) feed. In addition to increasing (or conserving) stock by taking cuttings, verbenas can be raised quickly and in profusion from seed. |
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 he seed company Thompson & Morgan have many low growing or trailing varieties suitable for both beds and pots. But seek out a specialist nurseryman if you want to grow some of the new and improved varieties that are being raised here and in France and Japan. |
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