analysis: landscaping (annual flowers) –      Verbena

What to know about verbena –

Notes:

• About Verbena:

  Verbena has about 250 species of annual and perennial semi-woody flowering plants. The majority of the species are native to the Americas and Asia.

• The leaves are usually opposite, simple, and in many species hairy, often densely. The flowers are small with five petals borne in dense spikes. Colors include some shadee of blue, white, pink, red or purple.
• They are drought-resistant, tolerating full sun. They do best planted in well-drained soils. Plants can be grown from seed.
• REFERENCE: information lifted from wikipedia
  INFO: using verbena
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• Where to Grow:

  Perennial type verbena grows in temperate climate regions and can be trimmed back for continued summer blooms. Perennial verbena are best for hot and humid climates. Annual verbena raised from seed perform best in moderate climates; they don’t perform well in hot, humid conditions.

• Verbena loves sunny climates and need about 8-10 hours of full sun. The annual verbena will bloom all season long until the first frost; the perennial type can be trimmed back for continued blooms.
• Verbena species are drought tolerate and do best is dry, well-drained soil. Wet, soggy soil does not bode well for verbena – especially during winter months for the perennial type. Just make sure to plant verbena in well-drained, soil conditions.
• INFO: how To grow verbena plants
  INFO: growing lobelia in containers
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• Garden Planning:

  Verbena is prefect for garden beds, rock gardens, between cracks on hill sides, containers and other garden locations that receive full sun and where the soil drains.

• They work particular nice as a ground cover or as bordering flowers in garden beds. Intermingle verbena with other sun loving plants that do not require a lot of watering.
• IMAGES: verbena in rock gardens
  IMAGES: verbena in dessert gardens
• IMAGES: verbena as ground cover
  IMAGES: verbena in containers
• IMAGES: verbena in garden beds
  IMAGES: perennial verbena garden
• INFO: 14 most common types of verbena flowers
  INFO: verbena varities to grow
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• Care and Harvesting:

  Verbena will grow all summer long. In warmer climates, verbena can survive the winter and come back as a perennial. But it may not be as hardy.

• For gardens using annual plantings (mostly in temperate climates), verbena will bloom all season long until the first frost. You can harvest the seed that can be used for spring planting.
• Verbena is also known as a herbal remedy. It has been used for centuries for aiding in respiratory ailments, depression, urinary tract disorders, skin issues and other health issues.
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• INFO: how to harvest verbena seeds
  INFO: growing verbena – how to sow verbena
  INFO: healty benefits of verbena
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• Summary:

  Light:  sun
  Soil:  dry, sandy
  Height:  6-12 inches (annual), 1-3 feet (perennial)
  Width:  12-20 inches depending on type
  Flower:  blue, purple, white, pink, red
  Foliage:  blue/green
  Season:  summer blooms, fall blooms
  Features:  good for containers, attracts butterflys, cut flowers
  Benefits:  deer resistant, drought tolerant
  Propagation:  seed, stem cuttings
  Zones:  7,8,9
  INFO: view growing zones
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