How do you keep verbena from getting leggy?
Trailing Verbenas can also be cut back at any time during the growing season if the plant becomes leggy. Deadheading Verbena or removing spent flowers maintains a clean appearance and allows the plant to refocus its energy into even more flowers.
What type of flower is a verbena?
Verbena, sometimes also called vervain, refers to a genus of annual and perennial plants in the Verbenaceae flower family. The genus consists of approximately 250 different species of flowering plants, most of which are native to Asia and America.
Is verbena a spreading plant?
The plants have a low spreading form and will flower profusely all summer. Creeping stems often root into the soil or mulch. Plants are tolerant of heat and drought, although best growth will occur with plenty of water and fertilizer. Like most verbenas, they need excellent soil drainage.
Why is my verbena leggy?
You can prune verbena more than once during the summer if the plant flowers poorly or the stems become too long and leggy. Although drought-resistant, dry periods are more likely to produce tall, leggy growth. Provide the plant with about 1 inch of water from irrigation or rain each week.
Does verbena need cutting back?
Verbena can grow very quickly, so you may need to trim it back to control growth throughout the season. To do this, cut about 2 inches (5.1 cm) off the ends of the plants where you want to control growth. You can do this about 2-3 times over the season or as needed. This is called tipping the plant.
What is wrong with my verbena?
If your purple verbena is stressed from lack of sunlight or water or is otherwise weakened, it is susceptible to a powdery mildew infection that leaves a white fungal powder on the leaves’ surfaces, shoots and flowers, and which causes premature leaf death.
What does verbena flowers look like?
Common garden varieties have tiny, fragrant flowers in saucer-shaped clusters up to 3 inches across. The most common flower colors include shades of pink, red, purple, coral, and blue-violet, as well as bicolored varieties.
Is verbena a groundcover?
With flowers that bloom for weeks or more, verbena are a great way to bring color to your landscaping. One thing to note about verbena is that size varies tremendously among varieties. Most are known for quickly spreading far and wide, making them an excellent ground cover, while others grow tall.
How do you maintain verbena?
VERBENA CARE Although established plants are drought tolerant, they will do better with regular watering, especially container-grown plants. Also, make sure they have good drainage, whether in containers or garden beds, so the roots don’t sit in soggy soil.