Verbena Bonariensis

I have grow this plant in a pot this year and placed it on my deck among all the other pots, it has been delightful!

I have a lovely pot filled with this too. It's very eaasy to strike from cuttings. I took mine in early august and they were very well rooted in 3 weeks

If I plant this in the borders I seem to lose it, so thats why I kept this years cutting in its pot, is it too late to take cuttings now? Mine still looks lovely.

It is a bit late but it could be worth a try. If you can keep them in a coldframe over winter they may well be fine.

Right, I will do that, nothing ventured, eh? Thanks

This looks very pretty, AM...I will add it to the list of recommended plants you gave me earlier in your pm. Many thanks again.

I like this very much, Anchorman...
Could you please comment a bit more about the care of Verbena Bonariensis ...

I have three VB doing well, sent to me by a GoY member, but as with Grandmage, I've lost VB previously over winter, when in a border.

However, some growers seem to keep their plants going from year to year easily ...

Currently I have two of the VB in pots and one planted in the border.

Do I need to take cuttings to be sure of keeping the plants ?

Can I collect the seeds ?

Any info. very welcome please ...

I'm a relative newcomer to VB but the ones I've seen that survive the winter seem to be in relatively protected positions against walls or fences.

I took several cuttings earlier this year and intend to over winter them in a coldframe and for total security I shall take a couple and put them indoors in an unheated bedroom. I hope one method or the other weill ensure success.

I've not tried this with VB but the following method works well with other theoretically hardy ( but not always so)plants.

Bank up about 2 inches of potting compost around the base of the plant ( or some bark chippings) This will give 2 inches extra frost protection and if the plant dies above this it may well come from below ground next year.

You could also cut the plant down to say 12 inches and apply horticultural fleece in very cold spells but I find this a bit of a pain. to do ..or remember to do.

Alot will depend on your soil. Many plants cope well with very cold spells but will die if they are water logged.

I have a very light free draining soil so don't suffer the water logging problems. If you have clay that might be a problem

I've not yet tried VB from seed but it does self seed freely so I would expect it to be easy to grow from seed. It's certainly worth collecting some for next spring.

Hope this helps

Thank you. I'll try the banking-up soil idea with the one in the border... Will put one of the pots in a cold-frame ... and also protect the other one in some way... probably plant it in a very protected location ...

Are you saying collect seeds now and sow in springtime ? Not put them in the ground now, as would happen naturally with self-seeding ?

I've never tried either method with VB so unless someone else can give a definitive answer I'd try both

:)

Thanks :o)

A very lovely photo, Anchorman! I like it enough to add it to my favourites, too!

Our local council planted 100's of them as dot plants in the flowerbeds in & around town. They planted them in the flowerbed in the gardens of this block of flats as well. They did look very nice & were still in flower when they pulled them to make way for winter/spring bedding. This was 2 or 3 years ago.

:)

Do you know Anchorman....its like Buddleias in my garden....the seeds sprinkle then up they sprout in all the cracks and stony places....I have a bank of them outside my kitchen window seeded in cracks. Getting them out is the devil's own job, they are as tough as old boots. They like dry gritty conditions in full sun. Ones I had in my garden perished in the wet last winter.
If I were you Tt....I would save the seed till spring then grow them in compost with plenty of sand and grit in, place in a warm sunny spot and they'll be well away.