Garden Verbena
Verbena x hybrida
A popular ornamental flowering plant featuring clusters of vibrant, brightly colored flowers atop upright or trailing stems with opposite, coarsely toothed leaves.
- Light
- Full sun, requiring at least 6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight daily
- Water
- Moderate watering needs. Water deeply when dry, ensuring good drainage. Avoid waterlogged soil to prevent root rot.
- Growth
- Typically grown as an annual or tender perennial with a trailing or mounding growth habit, reaching heights of 6 to 18 inches and spreading up to 12 to 24 inches
Care instructions
Provide full sun and well-draining soil. Water regularly when the top inch of soil becomes dry, allowing soil to dry out moderately between waterings. Apply a balanced, slow-release fertilizer in spring to support continuous blooming.
Growing details
Sunlight
Full sun, requiring at least 6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight daily
Watering
Moderate watering needs. Water deeply when dry, ensuring good drainage. Avoid waterlogged soil to prevent root rot.
Soil
Well-draining, loamy or sandy soil with a neutral pH range between 6.0 and 7.0
Hardiness zone
USDA Hardiness Zones 8 through 11, often grown as an annual in colder regions
Growth habit
Typically grown as an annual or tender perennial with a trailing or mounding growth habit, reaching heights of 6 to 18 inches and spreading up to 12 to 24 inches
Bloom season
Blooms from late spring through the first autumn frosts, producing dense terminal clusters of red, pink, purple, white, or blue tubular flowers
Propagation
Propagated easily through stem cuttings taken in spring or summer, or by seeds started indoors before the last frost
Common pests & issues
Susceptible to powdery mildew in humid or poorly ventilated conditions, as well as aphids and spider mites. Prevent by ensuring adequate air circulation and proper spacing.
Similar species
Lantana, which features similar rounded flower clusters but has distinctively textured, aromatic foliage and woodier stems.