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Is this verbena bonariensis big enough to plant out now, and where would be a good location for it?

Pink678Pink678 Posts: 498
in Problem solving
I was given this nice verbena bonariensis plant, with some little verbenalets at the base. I was wondering if I can plant it out in the garden now, or if I should wait until potential frost and snow is over (central England)?
I'm also wondering where would be a good location for it. I am guessing towards the back of a flowerbed as it can get quite tall? And I don't know if it must be south facing for maximum sun or whether it would be OK with east or west facing?
Thank you very much


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Posts

  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    edited December 2023
    Verbena bonariensis like full sun, warmth and well-drained soil.  They are not reliably hardy and will die in a severe frost.

    You need to keep yours in a bright but sheltered spot where it won't get frosted so in a greenhouse or coldframe or well lit shed.   Harden it off gradually once the worst of the frosts are past and then plant it out mid May.

    https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/verbena/growing-guide for more info.
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • Joyce GoldenlilyJoyce Goldenlily Posts: 2,933
    I would be inclined to put it in a sheltered spot in the garden to give it a little bit of shelter in case we have another Beast from the East or similar, sink the pot into the ground to prevent the pot from freezing, it is not likely to suffer from drought during the winter in Central England. Plant it out in a border almost anywhere, not deep shade. I had a large clump which I dropped into a rain butt, until I got around to planting it in the garden. It survived for 2 years growing only in water but finally succumbed to neglect.
  • Pink678Pink678 Posts: 498
    edited December 2023
    Thank you @Obelixx , I'm really glad I asked and didn't just plant it out.
    I don't have a greenhouse/coldframe/well let shed, so I hope keeping it indoors would be OK. I have a garage but that's not well lit.
    Should I water it much in it's little pot while I wait? I don't want to over water as I made that mistake with a pot plant.
    I have looked up hardening off, and will do that.
    When I plant it, I think I'll squeeze it in somewhere in the driest flowerbed then - south facing with lots of sun.
  • AnniDAnniD Posts: 12,585
    I have some of a very similar size and they are in a coldframe at the moment. If we get any frost then l'll put some fleece over the top as extra protection.

    If they start to get a bit of white mould on the leaves then l gently rub it off to prevent a build up. I find that they can be very susceptible to too much water/rain at this time of year.

    As said above, they'd like sun. My plan is to plant them out around late April  :)
  • Pink678Pink678 Posts: 498
    edited December 2023
    Thank you @Joyce Goldenlily that is another way I will consider too! When you say to sink the pot, does that mean to bury the pot as-is into the soil? I will consider other locations then - I do have a vacant spot in a west-facing flowerbed I would like filled - lots of light there.
    Great that yours survived in a rain butt!
  • Pink678Pink678 Posts: 498
    Thank you @AnniD , it's very helpful to hear how everyone does it! I had to look up coldframes as I am a beginner - what clever devices they are.
    OK sun is the thing then for verbena, I'll make that a priority when choosing the spot.
  • B3B3 Posts: 27,505
    They're happiest between paving slabs here so well drained poor soil seems to be the thing too.
    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • Pink678Pink678 Posts: 498
    Love it @B3 :D
  • Joyce GoldenlilyJoyce Goldenlily Posts: 2,933
    Pink678 said:
    Thank you @Joyce Goldenlily that is another way I will consider too! When you say to sink the pot, does that mean to bury the pot as-is into the soil? I will consider other locations then - I do have a vacant spot in a west-facing flowerbed I would like filled - lots of light there.
    Great that yours survived in a rain butt!
    Yes, just dig a hole a little larger and deeper than the pot, line it with gravel, and drop the pot into it. Backfill with gravel and top off the soil with 3-4 inches of gravel to help suppress weeds. There is no need to take the plant out of the pot until it is time to plant it in Sring. The grit will help with drainage during what looks like the wet winter we are going to have. The border sounds ideal as surrounding plants will give shelter. The only thing likely to kill Vib. Bon. is a prolonged spell of freezing conditions when if forecast, you could cover with bubble wrap, fleece, a cardboard box etc.
  • Pink678Pink678 Posts: 498
    edited December 2023
    That is really helpful @Joyce Goldenlily thank you for explaining that - I had never heard of doing it that way before. It can get quite windy here so I can see the verbena would need surrounding structures to protect it, as that long stem could potentially break.
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