Verbena bonariensis Seeds

Verbena bonariensis floats clusters of lilac-purple flowers on tall, wiry stems, adding height to a border without blocking the view. Verbena bonariensis is one of the best plants you can grow for butterflies, with bees and hoverflies visiting from midsummer into autumn. Its stems are so slender that it can be planted at the front of a bed and seen through, and it threads beautifully through grasses, dahlias and prairie planting. The stems also last well when cut. Plants self-seed gently, so once established it usually keeps itself going.

Sowing and growing

• Sow indoors February to April at 20 to 25°C, 8 to 10 weeks before the last frost
• Depth: sow on the surface and press in lightly; do not cover
• Germination: 2 to 4 weeks, sometimes erratic; a few weeks in the fridge first can help
• Plant out in late May once frosts are over, about 50 cm apart
• Position: full sun, in well-drained soil
• Height: 90 to 150 cm; spread 30 to 60 cm
• Flowers: July to October in the first year from an early sowing
• Lifecycle: short-lived perennial, hardy in most UK gardens in well-drained soil; often self-seeds

What you receive: a packet of about 150 open-pollinated seeds from Piccolo Seeds, with growing instructions on the back.

Verbena is a staple of our plants for pollinators and summer flowering plants. Browse the full seed range.