- Botanical name: Verbena officinalis var. grandiflora
- Common name: Vervain
- Family: Verbenaceae
- Plant Type: Perennial, Evergreen
Pink
Purple
Green
- Key features:
- Attractive seedheads
- Attractive to wildlife
- Flowers
Verbena officinalis var. grandiflora is a beautiful European native, bearing small purple-pink flowers held on spikes of tall, elegant stems.
It thrives on sunny, often lime-rich soils and is a popular plant for pollinating insects like bees, moths and butterflies. Try growing it as part of a mixed herbaceous border, or as a part of a sunny gravel garden.
For best results, grow Verbena officinalis var. grandiflora in full sun, in moist, well-drained soil. Leave the old stems and seedheads on for winter interest, then cut right back in early spring as the new shoots are emerging.
How to grow Verbena officinalis
-
Plant size
100cm height
75cm spread
-
Aspect
South facing, west facing
-
Position in border
Front, middle
- Sun exposure: Full sun
- Hardiness: Hardy
- Soil type: Chalky / alkaline / clay / heavy / moist / well drained / light / sandy
Plant calendar
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plant | ||||||||||||
| Plant |
J
Do not Plant in January |
F
Do not Plant in February |
M
Do not Plant in March |
A
Do Plant in April |
M
Do Plant in May |
J
Do Plant in June |
J
Do not Plant in July |
A
Do not Plant in August |
S
Do not Plant in September |
O
Do not Plant in October |
N
Do not Plant in November |
D
Do not Plant in December |
| Flowers | ||||||||||||
| Flowers |
J
Plant does not flower in January |
F
Plant does not flower in February |
M
Plant does not flower in March |
A
Plant does not flower in April |
M
Plant does not flower in May |
J
Plant does flower in June |
J
Plant does flower in July |
A
Plant does flower in August |
S
Plant does flower in September |
O
Plant does not flower in October |
N
Plant does not flower in November |
D
Plant does not flower in December |
| Cut back | ||||||||||||
| Cut back |
J
Do not Cut back in January |
F
Do not Cut back in February |
M
Do Cut back in March |
A
Do Cut back in April |
M
Do not Cut back in May |
J
Do not Cut back in June |
J
Do not Cut back in July |
A
Do not Cut back in August |
S
Do not Cut back in September |
O
Do not Cut back in October |
N
Do not Cut back in November |
D
Do not Cut back in December |
Verbena officinalis and wildlife
Verbena officinalis is known for attracting bees, beneficial insects, butterflies/moths and other pollinators. It has nectar/pollen rich flowers.
Attractive to Bees
Attractive to Beneficial insects
Does not attract Birds
Attractive to Butterflies/Moths
Attractive to Other pollinators
Is Verbena officinalis poisonous?
Verbena officinalis has no toxic effects reported.
No reported toxicity to Birds
No reported toxicity to Cats
No reported toxicity to Dogs
No reported toxicity to Horses
No reported toxicity to Livestock
No reported toxicity to People
Plants that go well with Verbena officinalis
