Learning Download: How to Grow Verbena

Verbena also is known as Vervain, and it is a very popular plant among gardeners because of their unique clusters of blooms and the flower is easy to care for. These flowers are oftentimes planted in rock gardens, in hanging baskets, as a groundcover and in patio containers.

Before Planting: Sow verbena seeds indoors 10 to 12 weeks before transplanting them outside. Verbena seedlings are prone to cold sensitivity, so be sure to plant them at the right time so the seeds have the best chance at survival.

Planting: If you want to sow them directly into the garden, plant them in either a cold frame or a raised bed and don’t do so until the spring.

Watering: Plan on watering the Verbena at least one inch a week to encourage the best growth and blooms.

Fertilizer: Fertilize the Verbena lightly with a 16-4-8 fertilizer in the mid-spring, and you can also use this same fertilizing method right after you cut the Verbena back.

Days to Maturity: The flowers will begin to bloom in late spring to early summer.

Harvesting: You can use Verbena as cut flowers to display in bouquets.

Tips: Trim the Verbena lightly in the fall, but do not cut them back very far, or else the flowers may not return after the winter.