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Verbena is a wonderful addition to any garden, celebrated for its delicate blooms and long blooming period. This herbaceous plant has a square stem and finely toothed leaves, bringing charm and structure. Blooming from July to October, the flowers come in shades of purple, pink, and white, making it a magnet for pollinators like bees and butterflies. The spikes of blooms are not only beautiful but also highly functional, perfect for informal borders or combined with ornamental grasses.

What Is Verbena and Why It Attracts Bees and Butterflies?

Verbena, often called Vervain or Verbena bonariensis, is a beloved plant in many gardens. Known as a pollinator magnet and an airy garden filler, verbena is part of the Verbenaceae family. This drought-tolerant and self-seeding plant is perfect for creating a natural garden or a pollinator corner. Verbena is native to America and Europe and can be used in borders, group plantings, pots, and planters. Its blooms attract bees and butterflies, thriving until late in the season. Ecologically, it plays a crucial role as a butterfly magnet, providing food and habitat for these important pollinators. The word "verbena" comes from Latin, meaning "sacred herb." It was used in Roman and Druid rituals, symbolising protection and love. Verbena can be a perennial or an annual, growing quickly in sunny spots and valuable in bee meadows. It's an excellent choice for those looking to buy verbena in the UK, as it fits well with airy flowering perennials and provides vibrant beauty in any garden.

Tall, Slender Stems, Violet Blooms and Long Flowering

Verbena is known for its tall, slender stems and vibrant violet blooms. It shows a unique growth pattern with bushy, loosely branched, and upright forms. This airy plant can reach a height ranging from 20 cm to 120 cm, depending on the species. Verbena develops quickly, thriving in sunny locations and showing drought-tolerance. It is particularly valued in bee meadows for its attractive blooms. From early growth, Verbena flourishes as either a perennial or annual plant. Its flowering season extends from June through October. Climate, temperature, and proper care influence its flower production. The blooms are primarily purple, violet, lavender, white, or pink, and their colour can be affected by soil condition, light availability, and plant age. Verbena is also appreciated for its light fragrance during the blooming period, which enhances biodiversity by attracting pollinators. As a drought-tolerant perennial, it is ideal for borders, group plantings, pots, and natural gardens. This plant, known as Vervain, is often self-seeding, contributing to its appeal in pollinator corners. The Verbena is a long-flowering garden plant that attracts butterflies. With its herbaceous nature, square stems, and finely toothed leaves, Verbena stands out in any garden setting. Its spikes of blooms and fine seeds make it a captivating and practical choice for gardeners seeking beauty and ecological benefits.

The leaves of Verbena have a distinctive shape that can be linear, lanceolate, or incised. These leaves often display shades of dark green to light green, adapting well to various environmental factors. Verbena is known for its ability to withstand drought and heat, making it suitable for gardens with compact or upright growing conditions. This plant usually maintains its foliage throughout most of the year due to its moderate hardiness, withstanding temperatures from -18°C to -12°C, and thriving in USDA zones 6 to 8. During winter, the plant might lose some leaves, but it generally remains an attractive feature in the garden. Verbena is also highly tolerant to heat and drought, thanks to its deep root system and leaf structure. This plant often retains moisture well, providing a reliable bloom from June to October. Verbena is considered safe for children and pets, as it is non-toxic under normal circumstances, though consuming large amounts should be avoided. In terms of ecological value, Verbena plays a significant role in enhancing biodiversity. Its small flowers, often grouped in umbels or panicles, attract bees and butterflies, supporting pollinator populations. With its long flowering period, Verbena is an excellent choice for creating a lively and vibrant garden, serving as a pollinator magnet and an airy garden filler.

Grow Verbena for Airy Style and Wildlife-Friendly Borders

Verbena is an excellent choice for enhancing any garden with its vibrant colours and delicate structure. This plant is a favourite among gardeners looking to create a lively and wildlife-friendly environment. Here are some ways verbena can be applied in the garden to attract bees and butterflies and create a beautiful setting:

Border: Verbena can be planted along garden borders to add a splash of colour and attract pollinators such as bees and butterflies. Its tall, airy stems create a soft backdrop for other plants.
Group planting: For a more dramatic effect, consider planting verbena in clusters. This approach can create a bold visual impact and serve as a focal point in the garden.
Pot or planter: Verbena thrives in pots and planters, making it ideal for small spaces like balconies or patios. This allows for flexibility in garden design and easy movement.
Natural garden: Integrating verbena into a natural garden layout enhances a relaxed and informal look. It blends well with other wildflower species and complements the organic feel of the space.
Pollinator corner: A dedicated pollinator corner featuring verbena can help increase the presence of beneficial insects in the garden. Its nectar-rich flowers are a magnet for bees and butterflies.

Verbena bonariensis, a popular variety, is particularly known for its tall and striking appearance. It suits various garden styles, from modern to cottage gardens. Its versatility makes it a great choice for both beginner and experienced gardeners. When considering how to enhance the garden's aesthetic and ecological value, verbena stands out as a top option. For those inspired to include this plant in the garden, it's a good time to buy verbena and start attracting pollinators to the outdoor space.

Best Companion Plants for Verbena bonariensis

Verbena is a stunning plant that works beautifully in gardens. It can be combined with a variety of other plants. Ornamental grasses make a great match, adding texture and movement. The combination of Verbena with Gaura creates a lovely contrast with their differing structures. Echinacea adds a splash of colour next to Verbena, while Rudbeckia offers bright, sunny hues that complement the purple tones of Verbena. For a fragrant touch, Agastache is a wonderful companion, attracting more wildlife to the garden. These combinations are not only visually appealing but also attract pollinators, making the garden lively. Verbena attracts butterflies and blooms long as a popular butterfly plant. Its long blooming period ensures colour throughout the season. Verbena bonariensis is drought-tolerant and thrives in informal borders. Adding Salvia to the mix can introduce different heights and colours, enhancing the garden's diversity. Together, these plant combinations create a dynamic and thriving environment.

Soil, Drainage and Full Sun for Vibrant Growth

Verbena thrives best in a sunny spot, needing at least 6 hours of sunlight each day. Ensuring good sunlight exposure helps it flourish and produce vibrant blooms. Although Verbena can tolerate windy conditions, providing some shelter can help maintain its structure. Windbreaks like nearby hedges or walls can be effective. The ideal soil for Verbena is well-drained and moderately fertile. Regular fertilisation and ensuring soil remains loose aids healthy growth. Maintaining proper soil moisture is crucial. While it can tolerate dryness, consistent watering during prolonged sunny periods enhances its vitality. The pH level of the soil should be neutral to slightly acidic, around 6.0 to 7.0, facilitating nutrient absorption. Factors such as sun exposure, wind, and soil type play roles in maintaining the right moisture and pH balance. Verbena, also known as a pollinator magnet and airy garden filler, truly shines with the right conditions, making it a wonderful addition to any garden.

How and When to Plant Verbena for Summer Display

Planting Verbena is best done in spring after the Ice Saints. This ensures the plant thrives in warm conditions. Potted Verbena can be planted year-round, avoiding frost periods, while root-balled plants are ideal for spring and autumn. Proper spacing is crucial. Consider the plant type, initial size, and growth rate. Information about plants per meter is available on the plant's product page. For Verbena, a sunny spot with at least 6 hours of sun is recommended. It adapts well to drought and heat. Preparing the soil involves ensuring it is light and well-drained. Use Heijnen planting soil for enhanced growth. When planting Verbena, dig a hole twice the size of the root ball, place the plant, and backfill with soil. Water thoroughly after planting and regularly thereafter. Adding compost in poor soils can improve growth. Regular trimming encourages flowering, making Verbena a long bloomer and an excellent butterfly plant. It's important to maintain soil moisture without overwatering for the best results.

Care Tips to Keep Verbena Blooming for Months

Verbena is a popular choice for gardens, known for its extended blooming season from June to October. This pollinator magnet and airy garden filler can brighten up any border or pot. Here are some care tips to ensure your verbena thrives and blooms beautifully throughout the season.

Care and Maintenance:
- Plant in a sunny spot with well-drained soil.
- Prune after the first bloom to encourage reblooming.
- Provide moderate feeding to support growth and flowering.
- Place in borders, group plantings, or pots for an attractive display.
Pruning Advice:
- Do not prune too early—leave seed heads for birds.
- Use sharp secateurs to prune back to the base at the end of March.
- Remove faded flowers after blooming to promote new growth.
Fertilising:
- Apply a balanced fertiliser during the growing season.
- Feed moderately to maintain health and blooms.
Watering:
- Water regularly but avoid overwatering.
- Check soil moisture before watering again.
Winter Protection:
- In colder regions, protect with mulch to survive a UK winter outdoors.
Transplanting:
- Transplant in early spring and water well after moving.

With these tips, verbena will continue to attract pollinators and beautify your garden until late in the season. Consider purchasing verbena to enhance your garden’s visual appeal and ecological role.

Visual Appeal Through Height, Texture and Colour

Verbena stands out in gardens with its vibrant flowers and delicate structure. Its blooms come in shades of purple, violet, lavender, white, and pink, adding a splash of colour to any garden space. This plant is a long bloomer with small flowers that attract numerous butterflies, making it a true butterfly plant. The Verbena is also valued for its ability to bloom profusely and its airy structure. Verbena is a profusely blooming perennial that attracts butterflies. With its dark and light green leaves, it offers an attractive contrast to its blooms. The plant's loosely branched and upright growth form adds height and texture, making it ideal for informal borders and combinations with ornamental grasses. This drought-tolerant perennial thrives in sunny locations and is particularly beneficial in bee meadows. Verbena, known for being a pollinator magnet, not only enhances the visual appeal of gardens but also supports the ecosystem by attracting bees and butterflies. Its ability to self-seed ensures that it continues to beautify the garden year after year. For those looking for a plant that offers privacy and a natural habitat for insects, verbena bonariensis is an excellent choice.

Popular Verbena Varieties Grown in the UK

Verbena is a popular garden plant known for its long flowering period and vibrant colours. It attracts pollinators and can thrive in various conditions, making it a favourite among gardeners. There are many types of Verbena, each with its own unique characteristics.

Verbena bonariensis: This tall variety has purple flowers and is a pollinator magnet. It blooms from June to October and has an airy structure that adds height to any garden.
Verbena bonariensis 'Lollipop': A shorter version of the bonariensis, perfect for borders. It still offers the same purple blooms and long flowering period.
Verbena hastata: Known for its spiky blue flowers, this variety is drought-tolerant and thrives in wet soils. It is also self-seeding, which makes it easy to maintain.
Verbena hastata 'Alba': This variety offers white blooms, providing a stunning contrast when planted alongside its blue counterpart.
Verbena officinalis 'Bampton': It has unique dark purple foliage and pink flowers, perfect for adding colour and texture.
Verbena rigida: Known for its compact size and vibrant purple blooms, it is ideal for pots and blooms throughout the summer.
Verbena laxiflora: Known for its small, delicate flowers, it is often used in more natural garden settings.
Verbena canadensis: Typical for its spreading habit, it creates a mat of colourful blooms, perfect for covering ground.
Verbena x hybrida: Offers a wide range of colours, making it a versatile choice for any garden.
Verbena peruviana: Known for its bright red blooms, it adds a fiery touch to garden borders.

All these popular and widely used Verbena varieties are available for purchase online at Heijnen, making it easy to bring these vibrant plants into any garden setting.

Benefits and Challenges of Using Verbena in Borders

Verbena is a popular choice for gardens due to its many benefits. It is widely appreciated for adding beauty and attracting wildlife.

Advantages:

Long flowering period ensures vibrant colour throughout the season.
Airy structure allows for great visual appeal without overpowering other plants.
Suitable for both pots and borders, offering flexibility in garden design.
Attracts a variety of insects, making it a pollinator magnet.
Self-seeding ability means it can naturally multiply, reducing the need for replanting.

Disadvantages:

Not all verbena varieties are hardy, requiring protection in colder climates.
Needs an open position for the best flowering, which might limit placement options.

Proper soil preparation, placement, and care can minimise the risk of diseases and pests. Regular maintenance ensures healthy growth and blooming.

Order Pollinator-Favourite Verbena Plants at Heijnen

Verbena is a great choice for anyone looking to add beauty to their garden. These plants are beloved for their long flowering and airy structure, making them suitable for both pots and borders. Verbena attracts many insects, including bees and butterflies, creating a vibrant garden atmosphere. This plant is drought-tolerant and self-seeding, providing ease of care and natural spreading in informal borders or when combined with ornamental grasses. Verbena blooms from June to October, ensuring a colourful display across the seasons. As airy flowering perennials, they offer great benefits for pollinator gardens. Buying Verbena in the UK is simple, and they bring the added advantage of being low maintenance. Consider the benefits of growing verbena, and think about creating a bee and butterfly garden that buzzes with natural activity. Buy the butterfly-attracting Verbena from Heijnen and let your garden buzz with colour and motion.

Ideal placement of a Verbena

Verbena thrives best in a sunny spot with at least 6 hours of sunlight daily. It prefers well-drained, moderately fertile soil to ensure healthy growth and vibrant blooms. Planting it in a location protected from strong winds helps maintain its structure. A well-chosen site encourages stronger growth, richer flowering, and improved resistance to environmental stressors. Verbena is particularly suited for bee and butterfly gardens, and it works beautifully in informal borders or combined with ornamental grasses. This plant adapts well to both drought and heat, showcasing its resilience. Verbena grows effectively in average to dry soil, with variations within the species adapting to different drainage levels. It is ideal for various garden applications, such as borders, group plantings, pots, or planters. Selecting the right location is crucial for this plant's growth and bloom success.

Planting a Verbena

When planting verbena, proper soil preparation is key. Start by ensuring the ground is well-drained and moderately fertile. Add compost to improve nutrient content and water permeability. This helps roots grow strong by allowing water and nutrients to reach them easily. Prepare the soil before planting to give verbena the best chance to flourish. Pot-grown verbena can be planted year-round, except in frost. For root-balled plants, it's best to plant in spring or autumn, leaving the burlap intact. After planting, water the verbena until roots are well-established. This ensures they grow deep into the soil. The size of the plant at planting time decides how many should be planted per square metre. Choose a sunny spot to encourage flowering. Regular pruning will help maintain its long-blooming nature and attract butterflies.

Fertilising a Verbena

Fertilising verbena is essential to ensure the plant thrives, delivering vibrant blooms and robust growth. Providing nutrients helps verbena maintain vitality and health throughout the growing season. Using an organic or organo-mineral fertiliser from Heijnen supports healthy growth and rich blooms, giving plants the nutrients needed for resilience. Fertilising verbena twice a year, in spring and summer, is recommended. The amount of fertiliser depends on plant size, with smaller amounts for smaller plants. During dry spells, ensure the garden is watered after fertilising, as nutrients are absorbed when rain or water moistens the soil. A long-flowering verbena may benefit from an extra feed mid-season, ensuring continuous blooming and increased health.

Pruning a Verbena

Verbena is an attractive plant often included in gardens for its vibrant blooms. Regular pruning of verbena is essential to keep it healthy and promote new growth. Pruning should be done after the flowering period, removing faded flowers to encourage further blooming. In spring, dead branches can be removed. Using sharp secateurs is crucial for making clean cuts and preventing damage to the plant. A well-pruned verbena can lead to more robust growth and a longer flowering period, making it a valuable addition to any garden. The best time to prune verbena is at the end of March, cutting it back to the base. Avoid pruning too early, as seed heads can provide food for birds. Regular maintenance ensures a thriving plant that enhances the garden's beauty.

Watering a Verbena

Verbena has a moderate need for water. Different types, like Verbena bonariensis, require consistent moisture to thrive. Young Verbena plants need regular watering to establish roots. Once established, they only need watering during prolonged dry periods. It's better to water thoroughly when needed instead of giving small amounts daily. Early morning or late afternoon is the best time to water to reduce evaporation. Check the soil before watering to ensure it's necessary, as excess water should always drain away to prevent waterlogging. This applies to Verbena plants in both garden soil and pots. Drip hoses are effective once roots are established, but initial planting requires direct watering. While Verbena can withstand short droughts, regular moisture supports continuous blooming.

The characteristics of a Verbena

Verbena is a fascinating plant with a rich history in Roman and Druid rituals. Known for its airy structure, it blooms for a long period, attracting bees and butterflies. Ideal as both a pot and border plant, it enhances any garden. Verbena is safe around children and pets, though it's best not to consume large amounts. Its presence in the garden serves as a symbol of protection and love, adding a touch of charm to outdoor spaces.

Separating/dividing a Verbena

Verbena is a versatile plant that benefits greatly from division. Dividing verbena rejuvenates it and removes old parts, ensuring healthy growth. This process also allows for propagation of new plants. To divide verbena, first carefully dig up the plant. Remove older sections and replant the younger parts. It is recommended to divide verbena every three to four years for optimal growth. The best time for division is in the spring when the plant is beginning to grow actively. Use a sharp spade or garden fork for best results. Regular division not only helps maintain the vibrancy of verbena, but also enhances the overall appearance of the garden.

The ideal variety for you Buy verbena (verbena)

Verbena is a stunning choice for the garden, known for its long-lasting blooms and airy structure. This plant, with its vibrant colours ranging from purple to white, is a pollinator magnet. It blooms from July to October, attracting butterflies and bees. Suitable for both pots and borders, Verbena self-seeds and combines beautifully with ornamental grasses. Buy Verbena from Heijnen and enjoy a lively garden.

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