Content

• Steps
• Part 1 of 3: Planting the Verbena
• Part 2 of 3: Growing Verbena
• Part 3 of 3: Stimulating the Verbena Blossom
• Tips
• What do you need

Verbena is an extremely versatile flowering plant that grows well in hanging pots, window boxes, garden beds, and rock gardens. It is an annual in seasonal climates and a perennial in warmer regions where blooms are frequent and colorful throughout the summer.

Steps

Part 1 of 3: Planting the Verbena

1. 1 Purchase verbena seedlings from your local garden store. Since verbena seeds take a long time to germinate, you can save time and space by starting with seedlings.
   • When buying vervain, ask sellers how high it grows and compare the different colors. You will find verbena plants in white, red, purple, pink, or multi-colored varieties.
2. 2 Plant verbena seeds in winter if you want to grow it from seed. Place two seeds at a time in a peat or fiber pot. Keep the soil moist, but do not overmoisten.
   • Use warm water to keep the soil warm during seed germination.
   • The seeds will germinate in about one month.
3. 3 Grow them indoors until they produce 3-4 leaves. Then temper them by exposing them outside for a day in the bright sun.

Part 2 of 3: Growing Verbena

1. 1 Choose verbena spots that get 8-10 hours of direct sunlight. Verbena plants are prone to powdery mildew if they don't get enough sun.
2. 2 Plant verbena seedlings in late spring or early summer. Do this after the last frost and when the days are long.
3. 3 Plant them in well-drained soil. After you have planted them in the ground, fertilize the soil with flower fertilizer. Fertilize monthly for the rest of the growing season.
4. 4 Water to keep the soil moist for the first few weeks after planting.
5. 5 Change the watering schedule after the verbena is well established. Water once a week at the base of the plant so that they receive about 3 cm of water or rain. Let the soil dry before the next watering.
   • Over-watering and over-watering are common mistakes in vervain care.

Part 3 of 3: Stimulating the Verbena Blossom

1. 1 Trim wilted verbena buds after the first full bloom. Cut off one-fourth of the plants at the start of growth, including old faded flowers. Be careful not to prune on the main stem.
2. 2 Prune two to three times per season. The next flowers will appear in 15-20 days. This practice will help produce more flowers and wider plants.
3. 3 Consider grafting to add more verbena if you want to grow it again. Cut off the stem just below the bump, or thickened spot on the stem. Plant them in soil and keep them moist and shaded until they take root.
   • Keep them in a container that gets as much sun as possible until you are ready to plant them in your garden beds.
4. 4 Prune the plant back a little in the fall if you live in a warmer area and want to grow them as perennials. They will die with the coming of frost. Don't prune your plants too much or they won't be hardy.

Tips

• Verbena is a different plant than lemon verbena, which is often used in tea and in cooking. The lemon verbena plant is actually called aloysia triphylla.

What do you need

• Verbena seedlings
• Verbena seeds
• Peat / fiber planting pots
• Fertilizer for flowers
• Pruning shears / sharp scissors
• Containers
• Water