Forum home› Plants
This Forum will close on Wednesday 27 March, 2024. Please refer to the announcement on the Discussions page for further detail.

Advice on Verbena bonariensis

louise.colleylouise.colley Posts: 102
in Plants
I planted 3 verbena bonariensis in 2 large pots this year (6) in total mixed with nicotina and it looked fab.  Will defo do again as created great height and could see through well. I was going to cut down to about 12 inch and then move to a broader and leave and get fresh next year. I need to put in my bulbs now. Will that work or is now not the time to cut back and move? advices plse thank you 

Posts

  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    I have masses of them in my garden, they self-seed all over the place, and they're lovely.
    I pull them out and shift them round any time of the year. They're really tough.
    If you want to plant them out now, I'd cut the flower stems at the base and move them

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    If you're in a cooler area, you can cut back and use the material as cuttings. You may need to keep them slightly sheltered.
    They don't reliably seed around here, so I do cuttings, which are very easy, and a good back up if the original plants don't survive, which they often don't here as well.  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • Silver surferSilver surfer Posts: 4,719
    philippasmith2 said:
    They survive winter here and self seed prolifically too - rarely short of them :)
    Hmm! Where is here?
    So helpful if members could say where they live./approx.
    Perthshire. SCOTLAND .
  • KeenOnGreenKeenOnGreen Posts: 1,831
    The most prolific self-seeder in my garden (in the South East).  Always makes me laugh when I see garden centres selling them, and they're not cheap!  Whatever will they be selling next (Centranthus ruber, Carex Pendula....)   :)
  • sarinkasarinka Posts: 270
    KeenOnGreen said:
    The most prolific self-seeder in my garden (in the South East).  Always makes me laugh when I see garden centres selling them, and they're not cheap!  Whatever will they be selling next (Centranthus ruber, Carex Pendula....)   :)
    The local hardware shop is tiny aquilegia and hollyhock seedlings for £6 each!
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    @KeenOnGreen - it's Alchemilla mollis that I always baulk at when I see it for sale!  :D
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • louise.colleylouise.colley Posts: 102
    @KeenOnGreen
    I have a bit of that - I will divide now if it self seeds well too 


  • rachelQrtJHBjbrachelQrtJHBjb Posts: 819
    Just like @philippasmith2 and @Pete.8 mine self-seed with abandon. I never need to take cuttings - I spend every Spring weeding out the seedlings and older plants I don't want. I'm in Bucks on gravelly soil which is very dry in summer. Finches will enjoy the seeds if you do leave the flowers and foliage.

    A bit of a detour from the original question but if you are down south Merriments Garden in Kent (near-ish Tunbridge Wells) has a Verbena bonariensis "meadow' on gravel which is highly effective. This link has an image top left showing that part of their garden  https://www.merriments.co.uk/garden/garden-image-2/
  • AnniDAnniD Posts: 12,585
    edited October 2020
    I saw that a few years ago @rachelQrtJHBjb, it was stunning, l think it was the first year. 
    Funnily enough, l seem to be the exception to the rule (South West England). My verbena don't self seed prolifically, l think l've discovered one seedling in 3 years. Easy from seed or cuttings though, l find.
Sign In or Register to comment.