BBC Gardeners' World

Design ideas

Growing tall on strong, wiry stems, Verbena bonariensis can be planted alongside a variety of different perennials, including grasses. For an alternative contemporary look, grow it against a coloured, rendered wall. It also works well in tropical plant schemes alongside cannas, bananas, ginger lilies and bamboos.

Sowing seeds

Seeds can be sown directly in the ground in spring, or you can start them off under glass in late-winter, then pot them on to plant outside later. Verbena enjoys full sun, but tolerates dappled shade, and it's worth incorporating some organic matter into the soil before planting. Verbena also benefits from a light feed in spring with a seaweed fertiliser or chicken manure.

Verbena bonariensis is semi-hardy, so plants may be damaged by winter frosts. Protect the roots with a layer of straw or mulch in winter, and don't cut back the dead stalks until new ones have emerged in spring. If left, verbena bonariensis will self-seed freely and naturalise in borders, so any plants lost to frost should be replaced by their offspring.