Verbena Planting Guide: How To Grow, ID, Care Tips for 20 Types of Verbena

Growing a Verbena From a Seed, Cutting, or Seedling

Many people have questioned whether growing a Verbena from a seed, cutting, or seedling is the best route. Some gardeners will choose to grow their Verbena from a nursery-bought seedling to get a jumpstart on the growing season.

Meanwhile, others will grow from seed or even attempt to propagate from cuttings of their pre-existing Verbena plants.

Propagating Verbena from seed is fairly simple. Whether the seed is store-bought or collected from personal specimens, the seed can be sprinkled atop damp soil in early spring.

If kept moist, the seeds will typically germinate in about 20 days. Water or mist frequently until the plant is established and has a couple of full sets of leaves.

Gradually reduce watering as the flower grows.⁵⁷

Propagating Vervain from cuttings is another excellent technique. Take a soft cutting (new growth) in late spring.

Choose a branch with no blossoms, and cut the most distal 3 inches. Remove any leaves at the base of the cutting and plant it in a moist medium inside a container.

Keep the soil moist while the cutting develops roots. Some sources suggest covering the pot with plastic to retain moisture.

(Image by: Annette Meyer⁶⁰)

Roots typically form in one to two months, and then the Verbena can be transplanted.⁵⁷

Best Growing Conditions for Verbena

The absolute best growing conditions for Verbena do depend to some degree upon the species. Most Verbena varieties thrive in temperate climates with ample sun and cool weather, often displaying their most abundant blooms in spring and autumn.

Some species tolerate hot, humid, subtropical climates better than others.^6,11

Foremost in planting tips for Verbena are to plant the flower in full sun and well-draining soil that has been amended with organic matter.

Knowing when to plant Verbena for the best yield is also key. Verbena plants can be started outdoors in spring after the last frost.^11,43

How far apart to plant Verbena depends entirely upon the species of Verbena. It is important that Verbena plants get plenty of air to prevent fungal disease, so trailing varieties should be allowed enough space to spread.

A standard spacing of 18” apart works for most varieties. If a Verbena plant outgrows its space, it may be pruned back to size.

Verbena Growing Zone

Annual Verbena can be grown in most any temperate area, as it will inevitably decline at the end of the growing season. Whereas, individuals attempting to grow perennial varieties of Verbena will be wondering about growing zones for Verbena (where to grow for winter hardiness).

Most perennial Verbenas are winter hardy to cold temperatures as low as 0 degrees Fahrenheit. The preferred Verbena growing zone range is USDA 7 through 11 (See USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map).⁶

Companion Plants For Growing Verbena

Verbena flowers are known for appealing to various types of butterflies and types of moths, such as the chocolate albatross (Appias lyncida) and the hummingbird hawk-moth (Macroglossum stellatarum). Many species of Vervain, like Verbena officinalis, are known for being plants that attract hummingbirds.

To create a stunning pollinator garden, grow Verbena plants alongside other sun-loving perennial flowers. Choose flowers that attract various types of bees, butterflies and birds or plants that deter unwanted pests.

When growing trailing Verbena, complement with taller flowering plants, and vice versa. Some suggested companion plants for growing Verbena are:^2,18

• African Daisy
• Coreopsis
• Echinacea
• Fox Lily
• Jerusalem Sage
• Marigolds
• Mums
• Ornamental grasses
• Shasta Daisies
• Zinnia

Verbena Garden Care Tips

Tending a Verbena garden can be relatively simple. Once established, Verbenas are not particularly high maintenance plants.

The best way to care for Verbena is to apply fertilizer once a month during the growing season and prune out flowers as they die. Knowing how to deadhead Verbena flowers is helpful before trying it the first time.

It is important to prune gently, so using shears is preferable to tearing the dead blooms off by hand. Shear the dead flower head and up to ¼ of the total stem.

Some gardeners elect to wait until all of the flowers from the first bloom have died back and prune the most distal quarter of the plant all at once.⁴³

It is important to pay close attention to the watering needs for Verbena plants, as too much water can cause the plant to become susceptible to various diseases. Conversely, Verbena does not tolerate extended periods of drought well.

Therefore, Verbena plants should be watered regularly (around once a week) at their base and given ample time to dry in between. Decrease watering when rainfall is high and increase when rainfall is scarce.

Water Verbena plants when the top inch of the soil is dry or when leaves begin to droop.^5,43

How To Stop Verbena Disease

The most serious diseases of Verbena plants are typically fungal. Depending on the species, Verbena may be susceptible to:^10,30

• Alternaria leaf spot (Alternaria)
• Black root rot (Thielaviopsis basicola)
• Gray Mold (Botrytis cinerea)
• Powdery mildew (Erysiphe cichoracearum)

Additionally, spotted wilt is a viral infection that can impact Verbena plants. It is not possible to cure this disease once a plant is infected, so control and prevention are key.

(Image by: Wälz⁶⁵)

The more an individual knows about Verbena disease prevention, the less they need to worry about how to stop Verbena disease. The most important aspects of Verbena plant health are ensuring the plant has adequate space and air circulation.

Avoid overwatering, and water at the base of the plant rather than the top to prevent moisture accumulation. Always prune signs of disease immediately.

Aside from diseases, gardeners also need to worry about plant pests that make a plant more vulnerable to disease. Some common pests of the Verbena plant include:⁴⁴

• Green Peach Aphid (Myzus persicae)
• Verbena Bud Moth (Endothenia hebesana)
• Garden Fleahopper (Halticus bractatus)
• Verbena Leaf Miner (Agromyza artemisiae)

The most reliable natural pest control for Verbena is manually removing (“handpicking”) pests from the plants and pruning and destroying all infested areas. For some pests (Ex. aphids, fleahoppers), spraying with water and insecticidal soaps may be necessary.

Address infestations early to increase the plant’s chance of survival.⁴⁴

From ancient magic to folk medicine, Vervain has played a significant role in many cultures throughout history. Also known as Verbena, these colorful plants are long bloomers with fragrant blossoms.

Whether growing tall and slim or sprawling along the ground, the Verbena plant brightens any garden, also attracting beneficial insects and wildlife.

How To Identify Verbena

Looking for tricks for how to identify Verbena plants growing in and around the garden? The first thing to note is that there are a large number of Verbena species, and that means quite a bit of interspecies variability and diversity.

(Verbena Seed Image by: Salicyna⁵⁹)

Thus, identifying Verbena plants by size is not usually a helpful method, as some Verbena have a low, spreading habit while others grow erect and slender and may be shrub-like.

There are more useful means of identification, and these sections highlight the most defining features of the genus, Verbena.

Identify Verbena Flowers

Species in the genus, Verbena, can be readily identified by examining their flowers. Because most species of Vervain have highly similar flowers, this is extremely useful for differentiating Verbena from other genera but less useful for distinguishing between types of Verbena.

Individual Verbena flowers are tubular, with a corolla consisting of a slender ¾” tube opening up to a round, ½” disk of petals. Flowers typically have 5 fused petals in a star shape, and in many species, the petals are notched.

Vervain blossoms may be unicolored but are often bicolored with lighter centers.

The blossoms form dense clusters, producing a showy inflorescence. They grow on panicled spikes which are elongated to varying degrees according to the species.

Verbena flowers come in a wide range of colors: white, purple, pink, red, blue, and all the shades in between. They are loved for their extended bloom time which often stretches from spring all the way through to autumn.^{14, 17, 29}

Identify Verbena Leaves

The shared features of Verbena leaves are their form and arrangement. Leaves are typically simple in form and arranged in opposing pairs.

Many species have semi-evergreen to evergreen foliage, and leaves may be quite hairy, growing along square stems. Vervain leaves are typically lance shaped, slender but up to 6 inches in length, with dentate or lobed margins.

In general, the leaves of Verbena plants are denser at the base and thinner and more sparse as they progress up the length of the stem. Thus, it is not typical to see leaves in close proximity to the flowering parts of the plant.¹⁴

Identify Verbena Seeds

For most species of Vervain, the seeds are considered nutlets. The small Verbena seeds are usually no more than 2 mm in diameter.

They may be smooth or reticulate. Each flower usually has between 2 and 4 nutlet seeds which are sometimes contained within a capsule or schizocarp.

Verbena seeds are generally small and dark, and they are often elongated.⁹

20 Types of Verbena

There are about 150 species of “True Vervain” or Verbena, several of which are native to North America. There are also many closely-related plants in the Verbenaceae family that share the common name ‘Verbena’ and other characteristics.³²

The most familiar and well-known types of Verbena are outlined in the following sections with emphasis on their unique qualities for identification purposes.¹⁷

Note that the ‘sand Verbenas’ of the genus Abronia are not close relatives of True Vervains or Mock Vervains and are members of the Nyctaginaceae family.

It is a tall, erect plant, growing on strong stems up to 5 feet tall.

The species’ scientific name, Verbena hastata, alludes to its spear-shaped leaves which have serrated margins.

Although they are more purple than truly blue flowers, V. hastata blooms are still easy to distinguish because of their extremely long (6+ inches) spiky panicles of flowers. The flowers open consecutively in ringed sections beginning at the bottom of the panicles and working their way up to the tip.^4,7

2. Brazilian Vervain (Verbena brasiliensis)

The Brazilian Vervain, Verbena brasiliensis, is an invasive weed that grows erect to a towering 8 feet in some cases.

Stems and leaves are covered in stiff hairs, and flowers are more sparse than in other species. The capsule is two-seeded.²⁷

3. Common Vervain (Verbena officinalis): The Herba Sacra

Common Vervain, Verbena officinalis,⁴⁶ is considered the type species for the Verbena genus. One of the few species native to Europe, it is sometimes called European Vervain.

Because of its rich historical significance across its native region, the plant became known as the holy herb or “Herba Sacra.” Now widely distributed, common Vervain is still considered an important medicinal plant in many countries, with rising awareness of its antioxidant, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory benefits.

European Vervain is erect, growing up to 2 ¼ feet with lilac flowers on long slender panicles.^{35, 36}

4. Hoary Vervain (Verbena stricta)

The Hoary Vervain, Verbena stricta,⁴² is native to North America, and is particularly common in the Central U.S. This species grows up to 4 feet tall and prefers semi-dry soil.

It can be distinguished by the hairs that cover all parts of the plant and by the narrow flower spikes which grow up to 8 inches in length.

5. Large-Bract Verbena (Verbena bracteata)

The large-bract Verbena, Verbena bracteata,⁵² is native to temperate parts of North America. It is a prostrate plant which sprawls along the ground creating a dense carpet.

Leaves and stems are covered in stiff hairs, and the leaves are deeply lobed.

Its scientific name is Aloysia triphylla, and despite not being a true Vervain, it is probably one of the most recognized Verbena common name species.

Lemon Verbena is grown as an herb and cherished for its strong lemony scent. The plant can be used in syrups, baking, teas, and essential oils.³

While it is usually distinguished quickly by its aroma, it may also be distinguished by its size as it typically grows much larger (up to 10 ft tall) than other locally grown Verbena varieties and takes on a shrub-like form.¹

7. Mint Vervain (Verbena menthifolia)

The Mint Vervain, Verbena menthifolia,⁵¹ grows up to 2.5 feet in height. It is native to North America, and commonly grows as desert scrub in hot, dry areas.

The narrow flower spikes grow up to 12 inches in length, and the small, purple flowers occur sparsely up the spike.³⁴

8. Moss Verbena (Verbena aristigera or Glandularia aristigera): The South American Vervain

Moss Verbena, often called the South American Vervain, is one of those species that has not been irrefutably classified. Its scientific name, Verbena aristigera,²⁴ is considered synonymous with Glandularia aristigera.⁸

This species is a low-growing, broadleaf evergreen that is naturalized in the Southern U.S. Its foliage is fern-like and deeply lobed and its flowers are purple and moderately notched.^23,25

9. Narrowleaf Vervain (Verbena simplex)

The Narrowleaf Vervain, Verbena simplex,⁴⁰ is an Eastern North American native which grows from 1 to 2 ft. tall. Leaves are narrow and serrated, but unlobed.

Pale lavender flowers grow on long, slender, flexible spikes.⁴¹

10. New Mexico Vervain (Verbena macdougalii)

The New Mexico Vervain, Verbena macdougalii,²¹ has tiny, deep purple flowers on shorter, oval-shaped spikes. It grows erect, up to 4 ft. in height and has hairy stems.

11. Purple Verbena (Verbena rigida): The Slender Vervain or Rigid Verbena

Verbena rigida is sometimes called purple Verbena and sometimes called Slender Vervain.³⁹ This South America native has become naturalized in the Southern U.S., where it is tolerant of hot, humid conditions.

This plant has both an erect (up to 2 ft.) and spreading (up to 1.5 ft.) habit. It is best recognized by its deep purple flowers which bloom on thick, dense spikes up to 3 inches in length.

It is considered a tender perennial in those areas and is usually grown as an annual further north. It gets its names from its lovely lavender flower clusters and its height of up to 5 feet.

This plant self-seeds and can become weedy and invasive.^17,26

13. Red Hills Vervain (Verbena californica)

The Red Hills Vervain, Verbena californica,¹⁵ is a rare Verbena species known only in Tuolumne County, California. It is considered threatened.

The plant prefers moist soil and grows up to 1.5 ft tall in ideal conditions. The stem is fuzzy and leaves are long and slender.

14. Seashore Vervain (Verbena litoralis)

The Seashore Vervain, Verbena litoralis,⁴⁷ is a tropical plant that is native to Central and South America.

It grows up to 6 ½ ft. in height and grows purple-blue flowers on 5 inch spikes. It thrives in disturbed areas and can become weedy.⁵⁰

15. Shrub Verbena (Lantana camara)

The Shrub Verbena, Lantana camara,¹² is a related species in the Verbenaceae family. It is shrublike in form (up to 6 ft H x 5 ft W), hence the common name.

It is a tropical plant that is usually grown as an annual in the U.S. Unlike the ‘True Vervains,’ the fruit of Lantana camara is a drupe rather than nutlet.

16. Texas Vervain (Verbena halei)

The Texas Vervain, Verbena halei,¹³ is native to Mexico and the Southern U.S. It grows as a shrub in woodland areas.

It has a square, coarsely hairy stem. Its bluish purple flowers grow on flexible slender spikes.

The plant grows to 2.5 ft tall.³¹

Trailing Verbena is another of those species that is sometimes included with the ‘True Vervains’ and sometimes with the ‘Mock Vervains.’

Its scientific name is variably either Verbena canadensis or Glandularia canadensis,²⁸ and it is often called by the fanciful name “The Rose Mock Vervain.”

This North America native has a mounding, spreading habit and is sometimes grown as ground cover. It has a long bloom season and may be grown as a perennial or annual.²⁰

18. Verbena Hybrida (Verbena x hybrida): The Garden Verbena or Annual Verbena

Commonly known as the annual Verbena or garden Verbena, the Verbena hybrida (Verbena x hybrida) is highly recognizable in the United States.⁵³ There are many cultivars of this annual beauty.

The flower spike is rounded, creating a flattened cluster of flowers. This flower is often grown as a container plant.¹⁷

19. Western Vervain (Verbena lasiostachys)

The Western Vervain, Verbena lasiostachys,⁵⁴ is most common in California and Oregon, where it flourishes in disturbed areas and in moist soil along stream beds.

It grows up to 3 feet in height and bushes out. Its pale, purple flowers grow in sections along spikes up to 8 inches long.³³

20. White Verbena (Verbena urticifolia): The Nettle-Leaved Vervain or White Vervain

Although there are some cultivars of Verbena with types of white flowers, White Vervain, or Nettle-leaved Vervain, is a unique species of white Verbena plant with the scientific name Verbena urticifolia.⁵⁶

This species is rare in its white flowers and in its cold-weather hardiness.

Native to North America, it has been found growing as far north as Southern Canada. The plant is covered in bristles.⁵⁵

Red Verbena and Pink Verbena Cultivars

The cultivars of annual Verbena come in many colors and shades, and some of the most popular varieties are those with vibrant red and pink flowers.⁴⁵

Some popular red Verbena cultivars include:

• ‘EnduraScape Red’
• ‘Lanai Twister Red’
• ‘Lanai Upright Red with Eye’
• ‘Lascar Compact Dark Red’
• ‘Obsession Cascade Red with Eye’
• ‘Obsession Twister Red’
• ‘Quartz Red with Eye’
• ‘Royal Iced Cherry’
• ‘Superbena Red’
• ‘Superbena Royale Red’
• ‘Obsession Red’

Popular pink Verbena varieties include:

• ‘Aztec Pink Bicolor’
• ‘Aztec Rose Pink’
• ‘EnduraScape Hot Pink’
• ‘Lanai Deep Pink’
• ‘Lanai Twister Pink’
• ‘Obsession Cascade Pink Shades’
• ‘Obsession Pink’
• ‘Superbena Pink Cashmere’
• ‘Superbena Pink Shades’
• ‘Tuscany Orchid Frost’

Things You Should Know About the Verbena Plant (Verveine)

The Verbena plant genus, Verbena, often called Verveine or Vervain, is one of 32 genera in the Vervain family, Verbenaceae. Verbena plants are commonly annual or perennial herbs which have a sweet, citrusy scent and a bright profusion of colorful blooms that typically last from spring until autumn.¹⁴

Although only members of the genus Verbena are considered “True Vervains,”⁴⁹ the closely related genus Grandularia also have the common name ‘Verbena’ and are often distinguished as “Mock Vervains.”

The following are some interesting Verbena facts:^{16, 19, 38}

1. The plants are usually called Verbena in the U.S. and U.K. but Vervain or Verveine in most other countries.¹⁴
2. Many perennial Verbena are short-lived, often dying out after their third growing season.
3. Verbenas are among the minority of perennial flowers that can be expected to bloom the same year they are planted.
4. Vervain is prevalent in ancient Celtic lore and linked to Druid magical practices. It was believed to offer protection.
5. Historically, Verveine was used in herbal treatment of infection, colds, and skin problems.
6. Verbena scents are commonly used in perfumes and essential oils and sometimes used as flavoring in beverages.
7. Some birds, pigeons in particular, like to eat Vervain.
8. Verbena is believed to have anti-inflammatory properties, among other health benefits.³⁷
9. Some genera in the Verbenaceae family (Ex. Verbena and Grandularia) are so closely related and interconnected that the taxonomy of some species is still under debate.
10. Unlike most other genera in the Verbena family which tend to be shrubs, small trees, or vining plants, most “True Vervains” are herbaceous plants.

Every garden can be improved by the addition of Vervain, and knowing how to plant and care for types of Verbena flowers in your own backyard can beautify (and increase the health) of your landscape.

Frequently Asked Questions About Verbena