Verbena - Cultivation

Cultivation

Some species, hybrids and cultivars of verbena are used as ornamental plants. They are drought-resistant, tolerating full to partial sun, and enjoy well-drained, average soils. Plants are usually grown from seed. Some species and hybrids are not hardy and are treated as half-hardy annuals in bedding schemes.

They are valued in butterfly gardening in suitable climates, attracting Lepidoptera such as the Hummingbird hawk-moth, Chocolate albatross, or the Pipevine swallowtail, and also hummingbirds, especially V. officinalis, which is also grown as a honey plant.

The following hybrid cultivars have gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit:

  • 'Lawrence Johnston'
  • 'Moon River'
  • 'Peaches 'n' Cream'
  • Quartz series
  • Sandy series
  • 'Silver Anne'
  • 'Sissinghurst'

For some verbena pathogens, see List of verbena diseases. Cultivated verbenas are sometimes parasitized by Sweet potato whitefly (Bemisia tabaci) and spread this pest to other crops.

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