Last year I sowed verbena bonariensis from seed. It flowered well, but i was wondering if I should keep it as a perennial, or discard the plants and sow some more this spring. I want to use it mainly as a cut flower.
In my garden the seeds germinate freely all over the place - even in the lawn - and they do grow like (mostly) welcome weeds. They grow quickly and soon catch up with older plants and flower at the same time.
Some grew amongst a patch of Bishops Children last year that made a wonderful colour combination. I'll make sure the same happens this year
Don't know why you've not had success, my soil is slightly acid clay but had lots of organic stuff added over the years. Then again, there are plants I'd love that grow like weeds elsewhere, but not in my garden.
Good luck with them for this year
Billericay - Essex
Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit. Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
I had a beautiful Verbena during the summer which I have now cut down somewhat as I was loath to lose it hoping it would grow again for this summer. I have now noticed that some new buds are emerging on it so will this mean it will grow again as before or is that just wishful thinking?
Mine come up every year - for me it's a case of thinning out the unwanted ones, and as said above you can use some of the new shoots as cuttings for more plants that will flower this year
Was yours an annual verbena or the 6ft v. bonariensis? If it was a bedding plant then it probably wont come back -but you never know
Last edited: 22 February 2018 20:26:03
Billericay - Essex
Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit. Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
Mine was the 6ft bonariensis which survived the storm we had early June. I was looking out to buy another as I didn't think it would regrow to what it had been before. I will attempt to take cuttings from the new shoots. Didn't think it was possible I could end up with more than one! I shall look forward to seeing it again in its full glory this summer.
Thanks Pete. I also can't grow Japanese anemones. You know the invasive knotweed of the flowerbed?!?!?! I have planted them several times and murdered them all.
My verbena bonariensis seeds itself anywhere and everywhere in my garden, along with Cerinthe and hardy cyclamen. I usually pot up a few stray verbena seedlings, grow them on and put them where I want them to grow in borders. As my garden is quite windy I reduce the height of my plants by two thirds in the autumn. This year I cut up some of the stems and pushed them into a clay pot with potting compost. All but one is growing and producing side shoots. They have been growing in a double glazed conservatory with no heat in Cornwall.
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Oh I'm so glad you said that HH. I thought I was the only one who had diffs. Everyone else can grow them like weeds and mine won't grow.
I'm going to have another go though.
In my garden the seeds germinate freely all over the place - even in the lawn - and they do grow like (mostly) welcome weeds. They grow quickly and soon catch up with older plants and flower at the same time.
Some grew amongst a patch of Bishops Children last year that made a wonderful colour combination. I'll make sure the same happens this year
Don't know why you've not had success, my soil is slightly acid clay but had lots of organic stuff added over the years. Then again, there are plants I'd love that grow like weeds elsewhere, but not in my garden.
Good luck with them for this year
Billericay - Essex
Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
I had a beautiful Verbena during the summer which I have now cut down somewhat as I was loath to lose it hoping it would grow again for this summer. I have now noticed that some new buds are emerging on it so will this mean it will grow again as before or is that just wishful thinking?
Mine come up every year - for me it's a case of thinning out the unwanted ones, and as said above you can use some of the new shoots as cuttings for more plants that will flower this year
Was yours an annual verbena or the 6ft v. bonariensis?
If it was a bedding plant then it probably wont come back -but you never know
Last edited: 22 February 2018 20:26:03
Billericay - Essex
Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
Many thanks for your reply.
Mine was the 6ft bonariensis which survived the storm we had early June. I was looking out to buy another as I didn't think it would regrow to what it had been before. I will attempt to take cuttings from the new shoots. Didn't think it was possible I could end up with more than one! I shall look forward to seeing it again in its full glory this summer.
Thank you for the good news.
Thanks Pete. I also can't grow Japanese anemones. You know the invasive knotweed of the flowerbed?!?!?!
I have planted them several times and murdered them all.
My verbena bonariensis seeds itself anywhere and everywhere in my garden, along with Cerinthe and hardy cyclamen. I usually pot up a few stray verbena seedlings, grow them on and put them where I want them to grow in borders. As my garden is quite windy I reduce the height of my plants by two thirds in the autumn. This year I cut up some of the stems and pushed them into a clay pot with potting compost. All but one is growing and producing side shoots. They have been growing in a double glazed conservatory with no heat in Cornwall.