Verbena

Verbena – a perennial plant native to the Americas. Hybrid verbena is particularly popular and is widely grown in floriculture. In cultivation this plant is used as an annual. Verbena plants reach 30-50 cm in height with erect or ascending, highly branched, four-angled shoots. Verbena leaves are oblong, fuzzy, rough and triangular. Leaves and shoots are covered with gray stiff hairs. The verbena flower is regular in shape, pleasantly scented and sessile, forming a corymb-like inflorescence. Coloration occurs in several types: white, red, yellow, pink, lilac, purple, blue, with a central cream or white eye, as well as uniform colors. Medicinal verbena blooms long and abundantly, from June until late autumn. The plant's seeds, from which a nutlet forms, ripen roughly in the second half of September.

Verbena is mainly propagated by seeds, which are sown in boxes in early spring, in March. The first shoots appear unevenly, approximately after 2-3 weeks. Seed germination percentage is low and remains so for only about 3 years. They are pricked out at 5x5 cm spacing. To encourage bushier growth more quickly, pinch the tips of the main shoots while still in the seedling stage when about 8 cm tall. Plant verbena at the end of May or the beginning of June, at a distance of 20-30 cm between plants depending on the variety. It grows best in fertile, loose soil, with moderate watering and without excessive nitrogen and organic fertilizers. Verbena blooms very profusely in sunny locations.

This plant is fairly cold-hardy and tolerates frosts down to -4°C. Verbena is grown in rock gardens, flower beds, mixed borders, beds and borders. The following verbena varieties are well suited for cultivation:

1. Etna: has a compact bush, 50 cm tall, with a red inflorescence 6 cm in diameter, adorned with a white eye.
2. Cardinal: has a compact bush, 40 cm tall, with a bright red inflorescence 4.5 cm in diameter.
3. Defiance: has a spreading habit, 30 cm tall, with a red inflorescence 5 cm in diameter.
4. Shneekenigin: has a compact bush, 50 cm tall, with a white inflorescence 5 cm in diameter.
5. Danebrog: has a compact bush, 25 cm tall, with a bright red inflorescence 5.5 cm in diameter.
6. Kristall: has a compact bush, 20 cm tall, with a white inflorescence 6.5 cm in diameter.

Care tips

Preferred temperatures are 20-28°C in summer and 5-12°C in winter. This plant likes direct sunlight and bright diffuse light. All verbenas are quite cold-hardy and light-loving. They prefer to grow in open sunny locations. Water abundantly in winter and summer, without spraying. Propagate by seeds at 13-18°C in the spring period. Fertilize verbena once every 2 weeks in spring and summer with organic and mineral fertilizers. Verbena flowers should not be pruned. Diseases and pests: iron deficiency, aphids and whitefly.