The verbena is very popular with hobby gardeners. We have summarized for you what to consider when cultivating in your own garden.
Verbenas brighten up our summer with their numerous colorful species. Since the Verbena plants are very floriferous, the ideal planting for beds, boxes and tubs has been found. Verbena are not particularly demanding and are also an ideal starting point for inexperienced hobby gardeners. Even experienced gardeners enjoy discovering new varieties of this undemanding perennial bloomer year after year.
Origin
Verbenas (Verbena) belong to the vervain family. Hence the frequently used term "verbena". The original homeland of verbena is in South America. The species-rich flowering plants can now be found worldwide.
Vervain was already widespread in Europe in ancient times and was considered a remedy for injuries. Popular belief attributed miraculous properties to verbena.
Small description of plants
| Verbena (Verbena) | |
|---|---|
| Growth: | 15 - 120 cm (in bed) |
| Flower: | June to October |
| Location: | sunny to semi-shady |
| Casting: | plentiful in summer, but no waterlogging |
| Fertilize: | every 2 weeks |
| Propagation: | possible through cuttings or seeds |
Verbenas are mostly annual herbaceous plants that grow as subshrubs or shrubs. Most species not only bloom profusely, they also exude a spicy scent. Verbena features a quadrangular stem and simple leaves with serrated margins.
The verbenas can be found in different growth heights. Creeping and upright species are common. The hybrids bred for pots and tubs reach growth heights of between 15 and 30 centimetres.
The whole adornment of the verbena is its lush flowers, which come in practically all colors. Yellow verbena alone has not yet been sighted. A trueStriped flowers and various multicolored varieties are eye-catchers.
Species-Rich Verbena
To date, about 250 types of verbs are known. This has resulted in numerous attractive hybrids. Among them is also quite a few champions. The "Lila Luzi" variety was voted the flower for beds and balconies of the year in 2022. This may not least be due to the eye-catching two-tone flowers.
Short portrait of some varieties
| Type | Special Features |
|---|---|
| Lemon Verbena | • white flowers • aromatic citrus scent |
| Lance Vervain | • reddish to purple flowers • grows over a meter tall |
| hanging verbs | • flowers white, pink and red • ideal as a traffic light plant |
| White Lance Verbena | • white blossom candles • blooms particularly persistent |
Plant Verbena
Find the right location
Verbenas are not very demanding and can get along with almost any location. A sunny and warm position guarantees a rich flowering. The plants like to be in full sun and have no problem with extreme heat. The newer breeds have proven to be robust and defy rain and wind.
The plants will also thrive in semi-shade, but will probably appear less flowering. If you are at home in the heat of South America, you simply need a sunny location.
Selecting the ideal substrate
The soil should not be too heavy and too dry. Verbena need a lot of moisture. Care should be taken to ensure that the moisture does not accumulate in the ground. Heavy clay soil harbors this risk and should therefore be mixed with sand or gravel to make it more permeable.
A calcareous to neutral soil is well accepted. A slightly acidic soil proves to be particularly advantageous. Ordinary, pre-fertilized potting soil is sufficient for planting in flower boxes or planters.
Planting verbena - step by step
1. Select location2. Prepare soil
3. Water plant
4. Dig planting hole5. Lay the drainage
6. Improve the soil
7. Insert the plant
8. Water the plant vigorously
Verbenas can be planted all summer long. However, you should wait until mid-May before planting. Only after the Ice Saints is the plant safe from the dreaded ground frosts.
Earth will be firstloosened and freed from stones and weeds. In the meantime, the verbena should be able to soak in a bucket of water with sufficient moisture. The planting hole is dug at least twice the circumference of the root ball.
To protect the plants from waterlogging, drainage in the form of potsherds or gravel can be placed in the ground. Before the verbena are used, the substrate can be upgraded with compost or horn shavings.
Tip: Different species planted in groups are particularly attractive. A planting distance of about 30 centimeters should be maintained.
An overview of the most important planting tips
| Activity | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Select Location | • full sun to sunny • warm • bright • sheltered |
| Prepare the ground | • permeable • nutrient-rich • calcareous • moist |
| planting | • water the plant • create drainage • water vigorously |
Care for Verbena
Water verbena correctly
Verbenas are particularly thirsty. Last but not least, this may be due to the full sun locations that we should allocate to them. On hot summer days, one plant can take up to 1.5 liters of liquid. It should be watered several times. Plants should be well moistened but not overwatered.
Tip: Verbena do not tolerate waterlogging. Any standing water in the coaster should therefore be removed a few minutes after watering.
Fertilize verbena correctly
The verbena needs the support of the hobby gardener to ensure that the bloom lasts throughout the summer. If faded flowers are regularly removed, new flower balls will form soon after. During the summer months, a liquid flowering plant fertilizer should be watered every 14 days.
Tip: Plants in boxes or tubs should be fertilized weekly.
Do verbs have to be cut?
Scissors should be used if you want to encourage plants to flower and if you want to prevent the seeds from spreading uncontrollably. Regular removal of faded inflorescences encourages reblooming. Verbena are popular cut flowers and can be arranged into colorful summer bouquets.
An overview of the most important care tips
| Activity | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Casting | • higherLiquid requirement • The soil must not dry out • It does not tolerate waterlogging |
| Fertilize | • Regular fertilization promotes flowering • Fertilize verbena in the planter weekly |
| Cut | • removing faded flowers promotes rebloom • popular cut and dried flower |
Propagating Verbena
If you don't want to buy the annual plants again year after year, you can try propagating the flowering plants. Propagation is possible via cuttings and seeds.
Propagation by cuttings
1. Cut cuttings
2. Remove lower pairs of leaves
3. Apply rooting powder
4. Plant cuttings in potting soil
5. Moisten substrate
6. Cover seed tray
7. Wait for rooting
The cuttings are taken in late summer or early fall. The shoot tips should have a length of about ten centimeters. To speed up rooting, the cuttings are dipped in rooting powder.
After the lower pairs of leaves have been removed, the cutting is pressed into the potting soil and the substrate is moistened. The propagation box is set up warm and bright and covered with glass or foil. Now patience is required. Once the cuttings have developed strong roots, the seedlings can be moved to a separate plant pot and cultivated indoors until spring.
Propagation by seeds
In the bed, the annual plants do their own sowing. For targeted propagation by seeds, the seed pods are collected in autumn and kept in a cool, dry place.
In late winter you can start sowing the seeds in seed trays and growing them on the sunny windowsill. The seeds are not completely covered with soil. Germination should take place at room temperature. After a few weeks, the plants can be pricked out. After the ice saints, the move to the open air takes place.
Recognize diseases and pests on the verbena
Verbenas are no different from other balcony flowers in this regard. They can be attacked by aphids, spider mites or whitefly. Outdoors, snails are the biggest enemies of perpetual bloomers.
Tip: Good news for the hobby gardener - just a few years ago powdery mildew was also common on verbena. Most new breeds are now resistant.
The pests can be driven away with a hard jet of water or mild soapy waterwill. Garlic broth or horsetail broth are used for general strengthening.
Can verbena be overwintered?
Verbenas are actually annual plants. But you should not hastily ban the pretty flowering plants from the garden. With a few tips, propagation can be successful and there is great joy when the verbena are in full bloom for the second or third year in a row.
Tip: Presumably overwintered verbena will not flower in the following years.
Overwinter verbena - this is how it works
- Wait for flowering
- Pruning plants in autumn
- Cover the plant with leaves or brushwood
The verbena is cut back to the ground and covered with a thick layer of brushwood, straw or leaves.
The verbena can also be overwintered in a bucket. If the planters are to be left outside, a base made of wood or polystyrene protects them from freezing. The plant pot can also be wrapped with foil or garden fleece.
Tip: Don't fertilize in winter. The plants should not dry out completely and therefore receive little watering.
Usage
In the flower box, verbena can be nicely arranged in connection with begonias, petunias or magic bells. You have the choice between hanging or compact growing varieties. The taller varieties are popular cut and dried flowers.
Vervain as a cut flower
If you would like to put together a beautiful bouquet of verbena flowers, it is best to cut them in the morning and remove the leaves from the lower half of the stem. Ideally, place the bouquet in room-warm water rather than ice-cold water and add a pinch of sugar.
Tip: Verbena will last longest after pruning if the buds are not fully open in the morning.
Vervain as dried flower
Verbenas are ideal for a dry bouquet. To do this, simply cut off the desired number of plants and arrange them into small bouquets that you tie loosely together. You can then hang the bouquets upside down in a dry and airy place. The attic is suitable for this, for example.
Drying with glycerin is a little more complex and expensive. Glycerin is mixed with water. The water gradually evaporates and the glycerine preserves the verbena, keeping it pliable and giving it an interesting shimmer.