Vervain

Vervain Overview

Verbena is a genus in the Verbenaceae family, originating in the Americas and Asia, and widely grown and cultivated as ornamental garden plants. They are annual or perennial, herbaceous or subshrub species with tiny flowers held aloft in dense flat-topped spikes or panicles. Many Verbena species are long-flowering, but only a handful of species are fully hardy. Those sold as annuals or bedding plants are generally not hardy, and are often raised for annual hanging baskets and containers. The more hardy varieties available include the ever-popular Verbena bonariensis, with its unusual tall square-profiled stems. Particularly in frost-prone areas, it's advised to protect plants with a dry winter mulch.

How to harvest Vervain

Flowers can be cut for floral arrangements.

How to propagate Vervain

Seed

Either sow in pots at 18-21°C in autumn to early spring or let it self-seed. Transplanting seedlings when leaves are large enough to handle into individual pots or the final position in the garden.

Cuttings

You can propagate from seed in the autumn or spring, from stem cuttings in summer or autumn.

Special features of Vervain

Attractive flowers

Other uses of Vervain

Suits prairie style planting either in flower borders/beds of informal cottage or gravel gardens.