Verbena

A heat-loving annual with clusters of small flowers in vivid colors that attract butterflies and bloom all season. Verbena is drought-tolerant once established and performs best in well-drained soil with good air circulation. Trailing varieties are superb in hanging baskets and window boxes, while upright forms work well in borders.

Verbena seeds have an irregular germination pattern and benefit from cold stratification. Chill seeds in the refrigerator for seven days before sowing. Start indoors ten to twelve weeks before the last frost, pressing seeds lightly into moist seed-starting mix and covering lightly, as darkness aids germination. Keep at 65 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Germination is slow and uneven, taking fourteen to twenty-eight days. Many gardeners prefer purchasing vegetatively propagated transplants for more reliable performance and superior disease resistance.

The Season Plate

Your Verbena Year

Composed for Zone 7 · typical seasons · frost passes Apr 2, returns Nov 1

Sow Verbena Apr – May, pick May – Oct. Set your climate below and every date on this plate re-times itself.

Sowing window

Apr – May

re-timed to your frost dates

Plant out

after Apr 2

once frost risk has passed

First picking

around Jun 14

≈ 60 days from sowing · 50 to per plant

Composed for —ColdTemperateMildWarmUse my locationUsed once to set your season · only the zone is kept

Week-by-week Verbena reminders watering, feeding and pruning, timed to your dates

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Frost alerts for your garden a warning before a cold night costs you the crop

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Succession sowing dates so the picking never gaps mid-season

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Plant verbena transplants outdoors after the last frost in full sun with well-drained soil. Space plants twelve to eighteen inches apart for spreading varieties and eight to ten inches for compact types. Verbena demands excellent drainage and will not tolerate wet feet or heavy, waterlogged clay soils. Amend heavy soils with coarse sand or perlite before planting.

Water regularly during the first two weeks to establish a root system, then allow the soil to dry moderately between waterings. Verbena is quite drought-tolerant once established and prefers to be on the dry side rather than constantly moist. Overwatering is the most common cause of verbena failure, leading to root rot and powdery mildew.

Deadhead spent flower clusters by shearing or pinching back to just above a set of leaves to promote continuous blooming. Feed every three to four weeks with a balanced liquid fertilizer. Trailing varieties like Superbena and Lanai series cascade beautifully from hanging baskets, window boxes, and retaining walls. Upright varieties provide dense ground cover in garden beds and attract a steady stream of butterflies and hummingbird moths throughout the summer.

Verbena pairs beautifully with other heat-loving, drought-tolerant annuals such as petunias, calibrachoa, lantana, and portulaca. Trailing varieties cascade over container edges alongside sweet potato vine and trailing petunias for a full, colorful display. In garden beds, combine upright verbena with salvia, marigolds, and zinnias for a butterfly-attracting border. The wide range of verbena colors makes it easy to coordinate with virtually any color scheme.

The Society Table

Petunia belongs beside it.

Old growers' knowledge, checked against Verbena's real companion table below — test any plant you're growing.

Grows well in the company of · 3

PetuniaLantanaCalibrachoa

Keep apart · 0

no recorded foes

Plant Verbena with good neighboursThe planner flags conflicts before they're in the ground

Related growing guides

Flowers

Petunia

A good companion for Verbena

Flowers

Lantana

A good companion for Verbena

Flowers

Calibrachoa

A good companion for Verbena

Flowers

Sunflower

View growing guide

Verbena requires well-drained soil above all else, with a pH of 5.5 to 7.0. Sandy and loamy soils are ideal. Heavy clay must be amended extensively with coarse sand and perlite or raised beds used instead. Apply balanced slow-release fertilizer at planting time and supplement with liquid fertilizer every three to four weeks. Container plants need more frequent feeding. Avoid rich, moisture-retentive soils that hold too much water around the roots.

Ideal Temperature

Hardiness Zone Compatibility

Cut verbena flower clusters for small bouquets when the majority of tiny florets in the cluster are open. The small flowers work best as fillers in mixed arrangements. For seed saving, allow a few flower clusters to dry completely on the plant until the stems turn brown. Crush the dried clusters between your fingers to release the small, elongated seeds. Deadhead the remaining spent clusters regularly to keep plants tidy and promote continuous new blooms from spring through the first killing frost.

Storage & Preservation

Fresh-cut verbena clusters last four to six days in a vase with clean water. The small flower heads can be pressed between parchment paper for two weeks for use in botanical art and greeting cards. Pressed verbena flowers retain their vivid colors well. For drying, hang small bunches upside down in a warm, dark, ventilated space for two weeks. To preserve favorite varieties over winter, take stem cuttings in late summer and root in moist perlite for overwintering indoors.

Powdery Mildew

Disease

White powdery coating on leaves and stems, especially during periods of warm days and cool nights with high humidity. Leaves may curl, yellow, and drop.

Prevention Provide excellent air circulation by spacing plants adequately. Water at the base and avoid wetting foliage. Choose mildew-resistant varieties.

Fix: Remove affected foliage. Apply neem oil or potassium bicarbonate spray weekly. Sulfur-based fungicides can prevent spread when applied early.

Spider Mites

Pest

Fine stippling on leaves that progresses to a bronzed, dry appearance with delicate webbing on leaf undersides. Most common during hot, dry conditions.

Prevention Maintain adequate watering during dry heat and avoid severe drought stress. Periodically spray foliage to increase humidity.

Fix: Blast leaf undersides with strong jets of water. Apply insecticidal soap or miticide for persistent infestations. Repeat every five to seven days.

Botrytis Blight

Disease

Gray fuzzy mold on flowers and stems during cool, wet weather. Flower clusters rot and turn mushy, and stems may develop soft, brown lesions.

Prevention Remove spent flowers promptly. Ensure good air circulation and avoid overhead watering. Reduce plant density in wet climates.

Fix: Remove all affected material. Apply copper-based fungicide during prolonged wet periods. Improve drainage and ventilation around plantings.

Troubleshooting Common Problems

Powdery mildew is the most widespread verbena problem, especially on older seed-grown varieties in humid climates. Newer vegetatively propagated series like Superbena and EnduraScape offer significantly improved disease resistance. Overwatering in poorly drained soil causes root rot and is the leading cause of verbena death. Spider mites become problematic during hot, dry weather. Verbena planted in partial shade will be leggy with sparse flowering.

Growing Tips

1. Start verbena seeds indoors 10-12 weeks before the last frost date and cover the seed tray with dark material, as verbena seeds germinate best in complete darkness at 18-24°C.
2. Soak verbena seeds in lukewarm water for 12 hours before sowing to soften the seed coat and improve the often-erratic germination rate from around 40% to 60-70%.
3. Plant verbena in full sun with at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight daily for the best flower production; plants grown in partial shade become leggy and produce significantly fewer blooms.
4. Ensure excellent soil drainage by amending heavy clay soils with coarse sand or perlite before planting, as verbena is highly susceptible to root rot in waterlogged conditions.
5. Space plants 25-30 cm apart to allow good air circulation, which is the single most effective preventive measure against powdery mildew, verbena's most common disease problem.
6. Apply a balanced slow-release fertilizer at planting time, then switch to a liquid bloom-boosting fertilizer (high phosphorus) every two to three weeks once flower buds appear.
7. Cut plants back by one-third to one-half in midsummer if they become leggy or sparse in the center; they will regrow and produce a vigorous second flush of flowers within two to three weeks.
8. Water deeply but infrequently, allowing the top 2-3 cm of soil to dry between waterings; overhead watering late in the day promotes powdery mildew, so water at the base of plants in the morning.
9. Take 8-10 cm stem tip cuttings in August and root them in moist perlite to overwinter favorite varieties indoors on a bright windowsill, preserving named cultivars that do not come true from seed.
10. Pair trailing verbena varieties with upright companion plants like salvia, lantana, or ornamental grasses in mixed containers for a dynamic combination of textures and heights that blooms all season.