Verbena Bonariensis

In a recent post, Herbdoc mentioned how her Purpletop Verbena (Verbena Bonariensis) attracts butterflies. I’ve been touting the virtues of this plant for years.

These include:

• It’s a pollinator magnet – loved by bees, butterflies and hummingbirds
• It’s tallish, but airy, so it can go almost anywhere
• It does well in dry conditions
• Its strong stems don’t require staking
• It self-seeds reliably, but is also easy to control *
• It makes a good cut flower – a nice accent in bouquets

Hummingbirds love it

I started mine from seeds that my aunt sent me in the mail. Do yourself a favor and just buy some plants. It’s much easier and if you leave the seedlings every spring, you’ll have the plant forever. I often wait until the seedlings are about four inches tall, and then I move them where I want them to grow. They transplant well.

*A word of caution: this plant is not as easy to control in southern climates, and is considered invasive in California and Texas.