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

Is my verbena bonariensis dead?

adam.mgadam.mg Posts: 30

I have six plants , three look like this - are they dead?; three others are in a different, maybe warmer, bed and are sprouting. 

Posts

  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    It certainly doesn't look too lively @adam.mg :/
    Sometimes they can sprout from below ground once it's warm enough, but if it's been in a colder, more exposed site than your other ones, and if the soil's colder/wetter, that can see them off. That's what finishes them off here where I am - cold wet conditions. I have to overwinter cuttings to ensure enough plants for the following year. 
    All you can do is wait and see. If your other ones are thriving, you can take some cuttings from them during early summer, and that will give you more plants.
    You might be lucky and have some seedlings around the other ones too, if the conditions have been suitable, and you can pot those up and grow them on too   :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • adam.mgadam.mg Posts: 30
    edited April 2022
    But I’m in Wiltshire @Fairygirl ! That’s most upsetting.

    You should see my melianthus major - it looks like Frankenstein. I pulled it out, and noticed three shoots from below ground - so quickly put it back in. Almost certainly killed it.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    They might come away, so you'll just have to cross your fingers.  ;)
    If they're in isolation like that, it can affect them when there's a bit of cold weather, especially if they've been pruned back.  The old top growth provides protection over winter,  and can then be pruned off when frosts etc are over and done with. I think you've maybe done it a bit too early.
    I've got one which is right against the house wall, and south facing. It's the only one that's been tidied up, and that was yesterday. It's tucked in and protected by other planting. The others won't be done for while   :)

    Have a look around and see if you have any seedlings near the other ones though. I rarely get any of those, which is why I do cuttings, but I'd expect you'd get better conditions for them  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • B3B3 Posts: 27,505
    I have a north/ south garden. VB are PITA weed on the sunny side and a welcome  rarity on the shady side. It's all about sunlight.  The more, the merrier.
    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • @adam.mg I had cut down my Verbena plants in autumn 2020 and they died. Last Autumn, I cut down 1 and left the other 2 just to see what happens. The cut down one died, and the two plants that I left, they have now new stems coming from the main root. I suppose I have to cut the old stems back, which is shame because they also have side shoots. I will do it with 1 plant and see what happens.
    Summary for me, if I want to keep the Verbena, I
    leave them in Autumn as they are and just stake them.

    PS: we had a nice winter here in Wiltshire, no storm until Eunice, hardly any frosty nights and not as much rain as usually.

    I my garden.

  • B3B3 Posts: 27,505
    You don't have to cut the stem all the way down. I always leave two or three side shoots.
    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    I never cut them right back - I leave around a foot, but I don't cut them back until at least this time of year anyway.

    @Simone_in_Wiltshire - those bits you cut off can be used as cuttings - that newer material that's sprouting is ideal. They'll produce more stems anyway   :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • Will do so @Fairygirl

    I my garden.

  • Wrigs21Wrigs21 Posts: 194
    Seem to spread round my garden like weeds! I tend to cut it back same time as the grasses 
  • WoottieWoottie Posts: 10
    All mine look just like yours!  Mild here so disappointing 
Sign In or Register to comment.