Patagonian verbena (Verbena bonariensis) is grown in Poland as an annual plant. Increasingly known among gardeners. It impresses with its decorativeness and flowering length. It can be grown in the ground or in a container. It grows in the natural environment of South America on the shores and inside tropical forests. It is grown as an ornamental plant in Brazil, Argentina, Chile and Colombia. In our country, only with good cover and proper care can it survive the winter season.
Contents:
- Patagonian verbena - description
- Patagonian verbena - when to sow?
- Patagonian verbena - cultivation
- Patagonian verbena - flowering
- Patagonian verbena - how to hibernate?
Patagonian verbena: description
The Patagonian verbena belongs to the verbena family with as many as two hundred species. The natural range of the entire family covers both American continents. The plants, however, spread all over the world. In Europe, they are recognized as species of foreign origin, appreciated by gardeners.
The lower varieties of verbena have been created, which are more and more often available on the market:
- Verbena bonariensis the cultivar "Lollipop" grows up to 60 centimeters with the same flowers as the basic species. It sets seeds, but they do not repeat the characteristics of the mother plant and they produce tall shoots,
- Dwarf, smaller size and focused growth is achieved by Verbena bonariensis 'Little One' cultivar, which grows up to 18-24 centimeters. It has seemingly larger flowers. Does not set seeds.
Patagonian verbena has rather hard and durable stems. They do not have much branching and are hollow inside. It has lanceolate leaves with serrated edges.It delights with its delicacy and does not need supports during growth. It is light and does not disturb the symmetry of the garden. It complements tall grasses and low flowers.
Patagonian verbena: when to sow?
Patagonian verbena is a perennial that is propagated by sowing seeds. It is a new species on the Polish horticultural market. It's easier to buy a Patagonian verbena seed than to get a seedling.
Seeds can be harvested in autumn by cutting the inflorescences on their own after the first frost. They are sown in small pots in February or March.If the seeds are sown too late, you have to reckon with the fact that this year we will not see any flowers or the plant will not bloom profusely.
The temperature of the environment where the seeds emerge should be 20-26 degrees. You need to keep the substrate moist. Only after sowing it is good to move the pots for about a week to a temperature of 4-8 degrees Celsius.This promotes the emergence of the plant. When the young seedlings have emerged and a pair of true leaves has developed, they should be transferred to individual pots. At the end of April or May, they can be transplanted into the ground at a distance of 30 x 40 centimeters or a larger container.
The inflorescences left until autumn will shed seeds spontaneously. This should be borne in mind during spring care works in the area where Patagonian verbena grows. The seeds will sprout only in spring, so if you do not want to destroy the young seedlings, you should not weed a hoe or loosen the soil under the verbena plant.Young seedlings appear at the turn of March and April.
Should Patagonian Verbena Seeds Be Stratified?
Yes, Patagonian verbena seeds require stratification at -4 to +4 degrees C for about 4 weeks. Stratification is nothing terrible or difficult. In science, we say that it is the process of preparing seeds for germination, consisting in removing dormancy (a state of inhibited metabolic and growth activity) by placing the seeds in a moist medium with a low temperature. So in practice, all you need is a fridge or a cool cellar and a bit of patience.
- says Dr. Eng. Tomasz Mróz
Patagonian verbena: cultivation
Patagonian verbena is a plant that is very easy to grow. The most important thing is to take care of its proper substrate. It prefers sunny, slightly shaded and sheltered positions.During droughts, it is worth watering the plant, thanks to which it will pay off with long flowering. Fertilization can be carried out up to two times per season.
It grows on dry, sandy or sandy - clay soils, the reaction of which should be neutral or slightly alkaline.Likes fertile soil enriched with humus and nutrients. Before planting into the ground, it is worth ensuring its drainage and aeration of the soil. Patagonian verbena cannot grow in heavy clay soils and in wetlands.
In spring, young growths appear on overwintering shoots. Once the frosts are over, the plant can be moved outside. When we want to grow it in soil, we put it out of the pot into the garden. If the Patagonian verbena has wintered in the ground, you can expect self-seeding around it. You have to be careful about it during spring care works. The seeds are able to germinate even in the crevices of the ankle or between the stones.The seedlings are confusingly similar to young nettles.
It is resistant to diseases and pests. Only powdery mildew and aphids threaten it. Its leaves and stems have prickly hair. If it takes root well, it can survive even unfavorable conditions - prolonged drought and shade. Patagonian verbena does not require much maintenance. Once the flowers have bloomed and the seeds have been harvested, cut the tall stems for the winter.
Dried shoots and those affected by fungal disease - powdery mildew must be cut and burned immediately. He althy stems that have been trimmed in the fall can be composted.
Patagonian verbena: flowering
Patagonian verbena is a perennial with a record-long flowering period. From July to October, you can enjoy its numerous pink-purple flowers.They are gathered in panicles at the top of the stems. If the inflorescences are not cut after frosts, they are decorative even in winter.Patagonian verbena is a honey plant that attracts bees, butterflies and other insects during flowering.If planted in the sun, it will bloom most abundantly. It blooms in the first year after sowing the seeds.
Patagonian verbena: how to winter?
Patagonian verbena is a perennial plant, but in Poland it has different winter hardiness. Some specimens die even in mild winters. In our climate, however, it is considered not resistant to frost. It is difficult to store, so it should be treated as an annual plant.
Some gardeners, however, try to keep perennials through the winter. After the autumn stalks are cut, you can leave the verbena in the ground or dig it into pots. It is possible that she will survive the winter, although there is no guarantee.
In autumn, verbena transfers all its energy to produce seeds, weakening the plant for the winter. However, if we cut its stems to a height of 20 centimeters in September, the perennial will grow and regenerate.You need to create a mound, cover or mulch it with a thick layer of bark. Repeated each year of this type of care, you will probably get a long-term verbena.
