Verbena hastata 'Purple Spires'

i have them with V bonariensis and the bees are happy on both. the butterflies are ignoring both for the budlea.

This is such a tiny plant, they're going for bigger and better things in the garden...like the Tamarix, which is buzzing.

what is the blue/purple 'ball' out of focus in the bottom left corner. it looks interesting.

That's Verbena 'Homestead Purple' which may or may not be hardy, depending on the temps here.