verbena homestead purple

Is Verbena Homestead Purple a perennial?

Growing up to 1 foot tall (30 cm) and vigorously spreading up to 3 feet wide (90 cm) via creeping stems rooting into the soil or mulch, this verbena is a tender perennial that is hardy to zone 6 but will need a good winter mulch. It is evergreen in zones 7 - 10 and may be grown as an annual in other climates.

Can verbena survive winter?

Overly severe fall pruning can reduce cold hardiness and plants may not survive a cold winter. Most verbenas are short-lived, so you should plan on replacing them after two or three years. However, some species can re-seed and naturalize in the garden.

Is Verbena a good ground cover?

Verbena plants come in a variety of shapes and sizes. While some have an upright growing pattern, there are several that stay very short and spread quickly by creeping along the ground. These varieties are great for groundcover, and will fill in an empty space very fast with delicate, low foliage and bright flowers.

Where is the best place to plant verbena?

Grow Verbena bonariensis in moist but well-drained soil in a sunny, sheltered position. Leave flowers to develop seedheads for the birds and, in mild regions, cut back before growth starts again in spring (plants might not survive winter in colder regions).

Does Homestead verbena spread?

"Homestead" Facts

The plant only reaches 6 to 8 inches tall, but its wiry stems root wherever they touch soil to help the plant spread 2 to 3 feet wide.

Does verbena reseed itself?

Verbenas produce copious seeds and will reseed themselves in ideal climates. However, for those that get a sustained freeze, it might be best to save seed and then sow in spring.

Should I deadhead verbena?

Deadhead faded flowers or blooms to ensure that blooming continues all through the gardening season. ... But, deadheading is necessary if you plant verbena for summer blooms. If the blooms slow, trim the whole plant by a quarter for a new show of flowers in 2 to 3 weeks.

Should verbena be cut back in winter?

Garden care: In cold conditions Verbena bonariensis can suffer dieback if cut back in autumn, so it's best to leave the plant until spring and cut back the old growth when you see the new shoots emerging at the base. ...

How do you winterize verbena?

Verbena bonariensis deadheading is easy. As the verbena flowers fade, simply cut off or pinch the flower stems under the spent flowers. If the blooms are especially abundant, another option is to shear off the first few inches of the plant until the wilted blossoms are removed.

Do verbena flowers come back every year?

Verbena is generally referred to as long blooming. ... Most, annual and perennial varieties will bloom from spring until frost with regular deadheading. As, perennials, verbena can be a short lived plant, this is why many perennial verbena varieties are grown as annuals.

Does verbena flower every year?

It is always short-lived, probably lasting about four years, but it can come through a hard winter well as long as the soil is reasonably drained. Verbena bonariensis is easily grown from packets of seed and, if sown by March, it will flower in the same year.

Can you plant verbena in the ground?

The verbena flower is not particular about soil, except that it must be well-draining. ... Perennial varieties of the verbena flower are often lost when planted in soil that becomes soggy following heavy winter snow or spring rain. Good drainage can offset this problem.

Why is my verbena dying?

If your purple verbena is stressed from lack of sunlight or water or is otherwise weakened, it is susceptible to a powdery mildew infection that leaves a white fungal powder on the leaves' surfaces, shoots and flowers, and which causes premature leaf death.

What smell is verbena?

The oil produced by the verbena plant is typically yellow or green, and offers a fruity, citrus scent, hence its common epithet, lemon verbena.

Should I prune verbena?

As with the annual verbenas, the verbena bonariensis benefits a lot if you cut its withered flowers during the flowering season. If you do not want this plant to spread try to cut these flowers do not get to produce and spread their seeds, but you must cut them as soon as they begin to wilt.

How do you prune Homestead verbena?

Cut back the plant if it outgrows the area you have allotted it. Hard pruning in midsummer can help to stimulate new growth and flowering. Avoid pruning back the flower in the fall after the blooms have died back, as this will make the plant more susceptible to cold.

What is verbena good for?

Verbena is a plant. The parts that grow above ground are used to make medicine. Verbena is used for mild gum disease (gingivitis), swelling (inflammation) of the nasal cavity and sinuses (rhinosinusitis), heart conditions, depression, and other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses.

What do you do with verbena in the winter?

Add mulch around the plant to protect it during winter.

Once you have finished deadheading, add a layer of mulch around the base of the plant. You can use a mulch that contains wood shavings, leaf mold, or compost. This will help protect the verbena in the winter.

Is Verbena easy to grow from seed?

The seeds need well-draining soil in a good, sterile starting medium, light moisture and total darkness. Overall, growing verbena from seed is easy and can save you money on your annuals.

When can I plant out verbena?

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.

Is Verbena invasive?

If you want pollinator activity in your garden, plant verbena in a sunny spot. There are some “considerations” with Verbena bonariensis. In some places it is very invasive. The state of Washington lists it as a noxious weed.