Verbena (Annual) Growing Guide

Soil

Well-drained soil of average fertility.

Position

Full sun.

Frost tolerant

Limited. Annual verbena can be grown through winter only in semi-tropical climates.

Feeding

Mix a standard application of a balanced organic fertilizer into the soil prior to planting. In midsummer, drench plants with a liquid fertilizer to prolong bloom time. When growing verbena in containers, feed with a liquid fertilizer every two weeks.

Companions

Petunia. Verbena’s low, spreading growth habit make it a good flower to grow in front of taller flowers, or as a trailing plant in mixed containers.

Spacing

Single Plants: 7″ (20cm) each way (minimum)
Rows: 7″ (20cm) with 7″ (20cm) row gap (minimum)

Sow and Plant

Sow verbena seeds indoors to get a head start, and set them out after your last spring frost has passed. Bedding plants are widely available at garden centers in spring, and some improved cultivars are grown from rooted cuttings, and can only be started from purchased plants.
Our Garden Planner can produce a personalized calendar of when to sow, plant and harvest for your area.

Notes

Annual verbena may decline quickly when summer weather turns hot and humid. In warm climates, perennial verbenas may grow better than the annual form. Flower colors include blue, violet, purple, rose, dark red, yellow, salmon, white and many bicolors.

Harvesting

Clip off old blossom clusters weekly to help plants develop more bud-bearing branches.

Troubleshooting

Spider mites cause leaves to look bleached and pale. Dispose of infected plants, because they cannot be brought back to robust health.

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