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How to grow Verbena bonariensis in the UK

Tall, see-through stems topped with purple flowers - butterflies can't resist.

• DifficultyEasy peasy
• WhereBeds or Pots
• Sunfull sun
• Grows to150cm
• Spacing40cm
• Time to first pickabout 16 weeks
• Typeperennial

When to sow, plant and harvest verbena bonariensis

Dates are for central England. Sow about two weeks later in the north and Scotland, and up to two weeks earlier in the south and south west. Get the dates for your postcode.

Starting it indoors

1. Fill a small pot or tray with seed compost
2. Push the seeds in (just covered) - a couple per pot
3. Water gently, then put them on a bright windowsill
4. Keep the compost damp but not soggy - check it every day
5. When they have 2 proper leaves, give each seedling its own pot

Planting it out

1. Toughen them up ('hardening off'): put them outside in the day for a week, bring them in at night
2. Dig a hole a bit bigger than the pot
3. Tip the plant out gently, holding the leaves, not the stem
4. Pop it in the hole, firm the soil around it, and water well
5. Space the plants about 40cm apart each way

Top tips for growing verbena bonariensis

• Tall but see-through, so you can plant it at the front too.
• It seeds itself around.

Soil and feeding

Poor soil - really!. Nasturtiums flower best in poor soil. Feed them and you get all leaves and no flowers.

Harvesting and eating verbena bonariensis

Enjoy the butterflies!

Saving your own verbena bonariensis seed

It does it for you!.

1. Leave a few flowers to set seed - it scatters them itself and new plants pop up next year
2. To move them, dig up the seedlings in spring and replant them where you want them
3. Or shake the dry seed heads into a paper bag in late summer

Where to buy verbena bonariensis seeds

Thompson & Morgan · Suttons · Amazon

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Verbena bonariensis questions

When should I sow verbena bonariensis in the UK?

In the UK, sow verbena bonariensis indoors from early March to mid April. These dates suit central England; sow about two weeks later in the north and Scotland and up to two weeks earlier in the mild south and south west.

When do I plant out verbena bonariensis?

Plant verbena bonariensis out from mid May to late June.

When can I enjoy verbena bonariensis?

Verbena bonariensis is ready from early July to late October. Enjoy the butterflies!

How long do verbena bonariensis take to grow?

Roughly 16 weeks from sowing or planting until the first harvest.

Are verbena bonariensis easy to grow?

Verbena bonariensis are rated 'easy peasy' for beginners, and can be grown in the ground or a raised bed or in pots and containers.