I sowed some last May and they were flowering by August, but it goes very very slowly at first before taking off once you prick them out seperately. Mine in their second year now already have flower buds again. I left last years bare stems on to protect them until spring as they are not super hardy.

Oh, I sowed mine back in March and I have 3 tiny seedlings coming through! Am I doing something wrong. They are not a new packet of seeds if that is any reason for them not to be doing so well.

Hmm. Thinking back I may have sown mine in April and not planted them into bigger pots until late June, thats when they took off. I just remember the seedlings remaining tiny for ages, much longer than anything else I'd sown. Once they are big enough to handle I would recommend potting on to their own (but still on the small side) pot. They did take absolutely ages (3-4 weeks before any sign of germination). I wouldn't give up hope yet (as I nearly did last year) :)

Ah right Weatherwise, many thanks, will not give up on them then.

Hi, PDB--If you do manage to get your verbena to grow, (and they are pretty slow to start!) don't cut the seed heads off at the end of the season, because they'll seed about the place and you won't need to plant seed ever again! They do like pretty dry places, so don't give them too much water. Good luck with them. Once growing well, the'll flower the same year but really come into their own the following year. Bye for now, Annie