Grow Verbena Bonariensis: Our Guide To Pretty Purpletop Vervain

Cultivating Verbena bonariensis gives you a chance to add a top-flight ornamental beauty to your garden. If you crave striking vertical flowers that can hold their own in borders or prairie-style displays, growing these verbena plants guarantees height, structure and drama. They also attract butterflies.

This species of verbena is commonly known as tall verbena, Brazilian verbena and purpletop vervain, thanks to its lofty purple blooms. Native to South America, it grows taller than all other verbenas. Purpletop vervain is an easy-care, tender perennial in milder climates, and an annual in colder regions.

This pretty herbaceous perennial plant produces clusters of small purple flowers on top of long, stiff stems which, despite their height, won’t topple. Verbena bonariensis leaves cluster in a rosette at the base of plants and are minimal on the flowering stems. All in all, tall verbena is reassuringly low maintenance, with minimal care needs. Just follow these essentials for optimum height and flowering.

As a mainstay of the late summer garden, Verbena bonariensis requires full sunlight to grow well. Choose a sunny spot, even if temperatures soar. This plant will appreciate all the sunshine you can give it.

Tall verbena does best with moist soil, but it is drought tolerant. Water a new plant until it establishes strong roots. After that, you only need to water when there is very little rain for extended periods.

Purpletop vervain is a tender perennial that will not tolerate freezing or frost. Wait until after the last frost date if you wish to plant outside. As it is drought tolerant, it thrives in heat and its humidity needs are low.

Regular feeding isn’t strictly necessary if you add organic matter to the soil at planting