Meet the Purpletop Vervain
Purpletop Vervain | Verbena bonariensis
How do you know it’s me?:
I am a flowering perennial in warmer climates, but behave more like an annual in cooler climates.
My tall, leggy stems have clusters of tiny purple flowers at the tips, often in a “Y” or trident shape.
These stems are square and slightly fuzzy.
My leaves hug the base of my stems and sit opposite from each other. Each long, narrow leaf is textured, with a toothed edge.
How big do I grow?: 2’ - 5’ height, 2’ - 3’ spread.
Sun-seeker or shade-lover: Full sun.
Where I prefer to put my roots: Moist but well-drained soil, I am also pretty drought-tolerant.
Hardiness: Zone 7-11, annual in cooler climates.
Original home: I am native to South America.
Colors: Purple.
When I bloom: From early summer until frost.
Wildlife friends: Hummingbirds and butterflies will visit my flowers.
Flora Fun Facts: I am sometimes considered a symbol of protection against harm or evil, as Vampire Diaries fans may know (i.e….Vervain). Verbena has been associated with prayer and healing, and was considered a sacred herb in ancient cultures.
More Info: This Dr. Suess - like flower from the Verbena family (Verbenaceae) is what is called a "tender perennial." In cooler climates, this plant exhibits an annual life-cycle and dies after a hard frost or two. It's in the warmer climates that it behaves as a perennial, returning year after year. The whimsy and vibrant color of the Purpletop Vervain is a perennial garden stand-out. The purple lollipops, balanced atop long wiry stems, begs for a closer look, which reveals that each lollipop is actually a tight bundle of miniscule pink-purple flowers.
Tall flower stalks sway in the breeze without toppling over, making this plant a great choice for a planting area backdrop or a stand-alone mass planting.
Great for a cut flower garden, and especially attractive when planted among ornamental grasses.
Verbena bonariensis is not native to the United States, and has unfortunately displayed some invasive tendencies particularly in the southern US. Please consider native or adapted, non-invasive alternatives to Purpletop Vervain when planting in zones 7 or warmer.
