Planting and care in the backyard for an extraordinary verbena. Verbena hybrid: growing from seed Verbena planting distance

This resident of the garden has more than 200 species. Below we consider what kind of verbena plant, planting and care necessary for lush flowering, photos of various types. Since ancient times, the plant carries some kind of mysticism. She guarded the hearth of the Celts and was part of the love drinks of the Druids.

Such a different vervain

Conditionally, the representatives of the Verbenovs can be divided according to several criteria:

There are annual, perennial and semi-shrub species.
The stems are creeping, erect or prostrate. The leaves are also different.
You can choose any color of inflorescences - there are about 10 of them. There are plain and flowers with an eye.

But all species have common features. Verbena is a rhizomatous plant. About 50 small flowers are collected in the inflorescence. Flowering can be observed from early summer to November. In our climate, unfortunately, verbena can only be grown as an annual - most species cannot tolerate frosty winters.

Now let's take a closer look at the popular types of vervain and look at photos of flowers.

Verbena perennial straight

This is the only plant species that tolerates frost. The leaves are oval-shaped with teeth along the edges, 9 by 5 cm. The flowers are lilac, the inflorescence is 40 cm long. Flowering is short.

Verbena Buenos Aires

From the name it is clear that the birthplace of the plant is in warm countries. There, Buenos Aires verbena reaches 120 cm, grows like a perennial. It has a main stem and side shoots at the base of the bush. The leaves are long, with teeth on the edges. The flowers are light lilac. Inflorescences in the form of spikelets, which in turn form umbrella-shaped caps. Flowering is long and abundant. The second name is verbena bonarskaya.

Verbena hybrid

A popular view among flower growers in our region. It has creeping, branched or standing stems from 20 cm to half a meter long. The leaves are triangular in shape, with a colorless bristle. Inflorescences in the form of umbrellas, fragrant. Verbena hybrid can be of two subspecies:

large-flowered (up to half a meter tall);
compact (up to 30 cm in height).

Verbena ampelnaya

There are two main varieties of ampel verbena:

Imaging;
Moon River.

Most often, ampel verbena is grown in hanging planters.

verbena officinalis

Perennial medicinal verbena grows up to 80 cm. The leaves are oblong, the flowers are lilac, the inflorescence is in the form of a panicle.

Verbena lemon

It grows up to 2 meters in height, spike-shaped inflorescence. This species pleases with flowers from July to September. Most often, the variety is used to make oil, added to tea.

The medicinal properties of the plant

verbena has medicinal properties and contraindications. The latter include individual intolerance. There are many medicinal properties different types they differ. Let's talk about two of the most popular.

So verbena officinalis has an excellent antispasmodic effect. Besides:

relieves headache;
helps with vegetovascular dystonia;
normalizes pressure;
diuretic;
removes cholesterol from blood vessels.

Lemon verbena has an antiseptic effect, is used in the treatment of vegetative-vascular dystonia, and also as:

sedative;
antipyretic;
used for violations of the liver;
helps with problems with the gastrointestinal tract;
anti-inflammatory.

We plant vervain

Since verbena is grown as an annual plant in our country, we will figure out how to grow it from seeds. In some cases, seed stratification is required for germination. To do this, you need a damp cloth, a dark bag and a refrigerator. We put the seeds in a moistened cloth, put them in a bag and leave them in the refrigerator for 5 days.

The stratification procedure is needed for those types of verbena that have a very dense seed box.

After stratification, you can start sowing. Verbena seeds can be germinated both by seedling method and in open ground. By the way, the first method showed great germination.

Verbena seeds keep viability for 3-5 years.

In many types of verbena, the percentage of seed germination is up to 30%. It is worth considering this and not expecting a miracle. Seeds are sown for seedlings in March. It is necessary to prepare pots with humus, sand or perlite mixed with earth. Next, the seeds are filled up and covered with a thin layer of humus. Capacities need to be covered with glass and germinated at a temperature of 20 degrees.

Do not forget to occasionally ventilate the seedlings and remove condensation from the glass.

The first shoots will appear in 3 weeks. As soon as they appear, the container should be moved to a cooler place.
Caring for seedlings is simple - you need to maintain water balance. Plants are sprayed when the earth is completely dry.

When the seedlings have two pairs of leaves (around May), you need to make a pick in separate pots. When the plants are already accustomed to a new place, you can do top dressing.

In ampelous varieties, the top of the 5-6 leaf must be pinched. This contributes to better branching of the plant.

When the seedlings have already grown up, they can be placed in open ground. A sunny location with fertile loam is best. But verbena can also grow in partial shade on poor soils dug up with sand.

It is important to keep the distance between the flowers so that they do not interfere with the normal development of each other. So, undersized verbenas are planted at a distance of 20 cm, and creeping - 25-30 cm.

To avoid destructive stagnation of water, drainage material must be added to each well before planting.

Planting verbena and care in the open field is as follows. On the street, the temperature should already be above 0 during the day, and at night not lower than -3. Otherwise, the plant will die. Make sure that the soil with the seeds is loose - this is the only way the sprouts can break through.

You need to sow on moist soil, do not sprinkle on top. Also, do not forget about timely watering, but do not overmoisten the soil.

How to care for verbena

The rules for caring for a plant are quite simple:

During the period of active growth and flowering, regular watering is needed. Since the end of the summer it is completely stopped.
Loosening is necessary in extreme heat. It is done only after watering to aerate the roots.
When planting verbena in a group, weeding is needed for the first time of growth.
In order not to fight weeds and not to loosen the earth, mulch the soil. Mulch will replace your work.

As for fertilizer, organic matter and minerals are applied. The first is added only once per season. If you fertilize more with organic matter, the verbena will only grow the green part, but you will not wait for flowering. Mineral fertilizer is applied 4 times.

When wilted flowers are removed, verbena will delight you with beauty and aroma until the first frost.

Dangers for the plant

Verbena is quite resistant and, subject to the rules of planting and care, looks like in the photo and practically does not get sick. The danger arises when growing outdoors in a flower bed in a rainy summer or when overflowing. So it may appear, a black leg, rot and other similar diseases. That is, the plant simply begins to rot. Such diseases are quite difficult to cure, so try to prevent waterlogging of the soil, organize good drainage.
Of the pests, mites and aphids can attack vervain. Save them from insecticides.

Collecting verbena seeds

When most of the seed pods turn brown, the seeds can be harvested. To do this, cut off the inflorescence and put it to dry on a piece of paper. To prevent mold from appearing during drying, the inflorescence must be periodically turned over. When the inflorescence dries, all that remains is to open the boxes and pour the seeds into the bag.

There is no guarantee that the seeds will pass on the look of the mother plant. What exactly will grow from them is impossible to guess.

wintering verbena

Most species in our climate grow as annuals, as at temperatures below -3 degrees the plant dies. In this case, plant residues are removed in late autumn and the soil is dug up.

In some regions, you can try to make vervain perennial. To do this, you need to insulate the root system with sawdust in the fall.

There is only one species that survives wintering - perennial straight verbena. This is a fairly rare plant in culture that needs preparation for winter. To keep the roots healthy until spring, you need to cut the stems to ground level, and close the base of the bush with spruce branches.

Decorating your garden with verbena of any variety, you definitely will not regret it. It's beautiful and useful plant not whimsical, beautiful and fragrant.

Verbena from sowing to the first buds - video

The year before last, I grew verbena (ampel variety) on the balcony of my city apartment. In the past, I decided to buy the same seeds for the adjoining flower bed, which we equip with a neighbor. And in the store they were pleased: it turned out that vervain is not a balcony plant at all, but a compact garden plant.

Therefore, I bought several varieties at once, created a multi-color "picture". And in this I look - the same vervain appeared in the flower beds near the neighboring houses. Obviously, their veins liked my flowers, and they secretly collected seeds from us. And we don't care!

It's simple: the seeds of such a culture can be stored for a long time (two years, and in some species even longer), germinate quickly, and the bushes bloom for a long time and brightly.

Verbena (some people call it pigeon grass) is a healing plant for some people, and a magical flower for others.

The homeland of this decorative culture is not Eurasia, but America, South and North.

You can recognize the plant by:

elongated green leaves, shaggy, with denticles along the edges (my guests sometimes confuse a non-flowering vervain bush with mint);
bushes of different heights - from 20 cm to a meter;
small flowers collected in dense inflorescences, monochromatic or two-color (the color of verbena flowers can be different - purple, blue, light blue, white, red, yellow, cream);
compact, shallow root system.

Verbena blooms from the first week of June to the last week of October. On one bush, up to 30 inflorescences can bloom at a time.

Cultivated species

In total, botanists have listed about 120 species. Among them are herbaceous plants and shrubs. But we can see only a few options for verbena.

Hybrid vervain. The most popular decorative species, bred from several varieties. The bush grows up to a maximum of 50 cm. It is decorated with a large number of twigs, as well as flowers of any shade - hybrid verbena has the most varieties. The most popular: "Cardinal" or "Julia" (large-flowered varieties), "Pink Delight", "Crystal", "Amethyst" (compact varieties).

Canadian. Low (up to 20 cm) annual. It blooms with lilac, pink or white small flowers.

Rigid. View with lilac flowers, creeping tetrahedral stems, fleecy elongated leaves. The seeds of this species are the most tenacious - their germination lasts for a record 5 years.

Buenos Aires. The highest view - the bushes grow up to 120 cm. The stems stretch straight, the side branches begin to grow near the ground itself. Inflorescences are formed from a large number small pink flowers.

Ampelnaya. A fast-growing annual with shoots of about 60 cm. Flowers can be of various shades.

Lemon. perennial with medicinal properties. It is grown not for the sake of beauty (since the flowers of such vervain are not so decorative), but for the sake of good.

Medicinal. It has an antispasmodic effect, and can also stabilize pressure, help with intestinal upset.

Depending on the species, vervain can be either an annual or a perennial plant. However, most of our outdoor verbenas are annuals due to the fact that they cannot survive the frosts of the northern or central strip. And only in the southern regions, perennial verbena can overwinter without dying.

How does this plant reproduce?

seeds

The most popular and convenient way.

You need to buy and plant seeds in March. Some flower growers germinate them earlier, in winter, but at such a time the seeds germinate more slowly.

Everything is done like this:

Soak the seeds in a biostimulator. It can be "Zircon", succinic acid - there are a lot of drugs in stores for flower growers. But if you couldn’t buy something like that, it’s not scary - they will sprout without it.
In a box with moistened soil (say, peat with sand), pour the seeds over the soil. The seeds are very small, do not sprinkle them on top, otherwise the sprouts will not be able to break through.
Cover the box with a piece of glass, a piece of cling film. If it's a clear plastic tray, use the lid.
Germinate seeds at 25 degrees. When the soil dries, carefully spray it.
Sprouts will appear 10-15 days later. However, you can see the first green heads as early as 3-4 days.
Move the box with sprouts to a colder room.
As soon as the sprouts show one true leaf each, dive them into separate pots (as a rule, disposable cups act in their role). By the way, if you initially sow a seed per cup, the seedlings will not need picking.
2 weeks later, when the sprouts "come back" after picking, pamper them with nitrogen fertilizer. And if your variety is tall, pinch the stem to make the plant bushy.
Before planting in a flower bed, the seedlings are hardened, exposing them to the street, first for half an hour, the next day for an hour, and so on.

Is it possible to collect seeds from your flowers

Yes. The photo shows what such ripe inflorescences look like. True, grown flowers can surprise you with shades of petals, especially if you have several types or varieties of verbena growing in one flower bed - the flowers will pollinate and create your own "hybrid".

On the bushes, you need to select ripe "fruits" of a dark brown color. Put them on a newspaper, dry them. And so that on the one hand they do not get moldy, turn the fruits over from time to time.

Store completely dried seed in a paper bag.

cuttings

In the spring, cut off the top shoot from the bush so as not to damage it. There should be 4 pairs of leaves on the handle.

The leaves from the bottom of the cutting are removed.

The cutting is stuck into moist soil (the same sand with peat), germinated under a film or a transparent bag. When you see that the cuttings have taken root (new leaves have begun to grow), remove the package.

The work with rooting cuttings can be seen in this video:

Planting verbena in open ground

Site selection. Verbena is suitable for both shade and a lighted flower bed.
Temperature. This culture normally relates to temperature fluctuations, but it cannot stand frosts - if it is -3 degrees or lower outside, the flower will die. Therefore, it is planted in open ground when there are no guarantees of night frosts - in late May or early June.
Priming. Any composition will do, the main thing is to be loose. If the soil in the area is too dense, mix it with sand when planting, and lay some stones at the bottom of the pits - they will act as drainage.
Distance between bushes. Ideal - 25 cm to the next seedling. So the vervain bushes will not jam each other, but they will not leave a chance for weeds.

Care for verbena in the flower bed

This flower is not capricious, so it is often chosen by summer residents who have no time to mess with flower beds every week.

Watering. Until mid-summer, the flower bed should be watered often (but moderately), then - occasionally. Do not let the soil dry out completely, the roots of the plant need slightly moist soil (although, of course, a solid puddle, on the contrary, can kill them).
Soil loosening. This procedure should be carried out after heavy rain or heavy watering, so that the soil is not taken with a crust and the roots of the plant can breathe.
Nutrition. If you don't have much time to work with the beds, apply organic once and forget about fertilizer until the end of the season. Love to tinker with flowers? In this case, your choice is “mineral water”, it should be given to verbena 4 times during the summer. But not more often, otherwise, instead of flowers, the bushes will “please” you with solid juicy, abundant foliage.
Pruning. To make the bushes bloom longer, cut off all faded shoots, a quarter of their length.

What problems can you face?

Pests: verbena is afraid of small flies that eat its leaves, which can end badly for the flower. Therefore, as soon as you see uninvited guests on the bushes, treat the flowers with insecticides.

Vervain almost does not suffer from diseases.

However, with the wrong care, some difficulties may begin.

The leaves have become slightly purple: the bushes receive excess moisture. This problem is exacerbated if the leaves or twigs rot, or powdery mildew spots are visible on the plant. Cut off all the sick, spray the flower bed with a fungicide.

Wintering

Most flower growers simply “uproot” bushes that have already lost their beauty and throw them away.

However, you can compete for your favorite flower (if it is perennial). In November, dig up a bush, plant it in a pot and place it in a room where the temperature is about 15 degrees. Having warmed up, verbena can grow and even bloom. Do not give her free will - remove the flower stalks, and shorten the shoots to a reasonable limit.

By the way, in the open field, the overwintered second-year verbena will bloom earlier than young seedlings.

In early March, prepare the flower for planting in the ground - carry out the mandatory pruning.

The vervain bush can very successfully overwinter in the house, if it is planted in a pot in advance. Here's what it will look like in spring:

To summarize...

Verbena is a beautifully flowering plant, the flowers of which bloom from the beginning of summer until the autumn frosts.
You can propagate the flower by cuttings, but it is better - by seeds.
This culture is planted in open ground in early summer.
In care, the flower is unpretentious: it needs not too abundant watering, mineral dressing 4 times per season, as well as regular pruning of faded shoots.

A large number of flower growers in various parts of our planet have long appreciated the graceful beauty and unique uniqueness of the plant with the melodious name "verbena". It is ideal for growing both in open and closed ground, so we can see the luxurious inflorescences of a delicate flower not only in household plots and flower beds, but also on the balconies of city streets. The photo of vervain shows the period of its flowering, and we will describe in detail in this article how to properly plant a plant and ensure proper care.

Canadian Verbena Homestead Red is a low-growing variety used as an ampel and ground cover.

Verbena belongs to the verbena family and has about 250 varieties of seasonal and perennial plants. It grows well in any climatic zone, in tropical conditions it blooms profusely almost all year round and looks like a small shrub. That is, in essence, vervain is perennial. But in our country, it is most often grown as a herbaceous annual.

Plant height varies from 20-40 cm (hybrid and Canadian verbena) to 150-200 cm (bonar, hard, lemon verbena). The width of even undersized species often reaches 70–80 cm. Depending on the type of flower, the stems can be erect (bush varieties) or creeping (ampels).

Bonar or Buenos Aires verbena (Verbena bonariensis) is a tall plant that blooms with purple fragrant flowers.

Hybrid vervain (Verbena hybrida) is the most common species, characterized by a variety of varieties. In the photo - variety Vegas Fluor Pink

The jagged leaves of verbena have a pleasant bright green tint. On each individual stem of the plant, 40-50 miniature carnation-like flowers are formed, which recreate a beautiful "cap".

The color palette of inflorescences is very diverse. White, pink, peach, red, purple, blue, blue - these are not all the tones that verbena can boast of. Moreover, the flowers can be both monochromatic and combine several colors at once. For example, the Lanai Twister Red vervain variety has inflorescences with red and pink petals. And the Tuscany Burgundy Eye variety has maroon flowers with a white eye in the center.

Hybrid verbena Lanai Twister Red

The nature of verbena

Verbena is quite unpretentious. It is resistant to heat and drought. It is not afraid of small autumn and spring frosts (down to -3 ° C), therefore it can please with its flowering from spring to October (even longer in the southern regions).

Also, verbena does not impose special requirements on the quality of the soil. The only condition: it must pass moisture well, prevent stagnation of water and subsequent waterlogging. Clay, heavy soil is not suitable, it slows down root growth and causes root rot. In the southern regions, perennial varieties of verbena often disappear when planted in soil that becomes damp after heavy winter snow or spring rain. Good drainage can compensate for this problem.

Another advantage of verbena is its long flowering, which does not subside in the summer heat. And a very wide range of colors.

Ways to grow verbena

There are several ways to get a beautiful verbena on your balcony or plot:

buy seedlings;
sow seeds;
cut the variety you like.

If everything is clear with the first option, then the second and third ones require clarification, and we will deal with them now.

Sowing verbena seeds

Growing verbena from seeds is done in late February or early March. From sowing to the beginning of flowering, an average of 2.5-3 months passes. That is, if you sow verbena seeds in early March, in early June you can already be guaranteed to admire the flowers.

Verbena seeds are quite large, similar to aster seeds.

To plant seeds, you need to prepare a soil mixture of peat, garden soil and sand, or buy ready-made soil in a store. To disinfect the soil, it should be steamed, calcined or frozen, and then spilled with any fungicide composition. This is especially true when self-manufacturing substrate from the earth from the garden.

Please note that some types of verbena (for example, bonar or hybrid) need stratification (exposure to cold). By itself, the shell of the verbena seed is very dense, so it is difficult for the sprouts to break it. Under the influence of temperature changes, the shell easily cracks and the sprout comes free.

Stratification can be done in the following ways:

Spread the seeds on a damp cloth before sowing. Place the resulting bundle in a plastic bag and put it in the refrigerator for 10 days.
Sow the seeds in a bowl (or other planting container), cover with a bag and refrigerate for 10-14 days.

Stratification provides accelerated pipping of verbena. Without cold stress, the germination period will be longer and some seeds may not sprout at all.

The process of sowing seeds of verbena looks like this:

the bowl is filled with the prepared soil mixture;
lightly tamp with a flat board or spatula upper layer land;
spread the seeds evenly on the surface of the soil, it is not recommended to sprinkle them on top;

carefully irrigate each section of the container from the sprayer;
cover the container with a bag, glass;
in order for the seeds to sprout faster, put the finished container in a warm place (the optimum temperature is 20–25 ° C), in the dark.

Don't let the soil in your planting bowl dry out, as this can slow germination or even kill the germinating seed.

Verbena seeds germinate long enough and unfriendly. The first shoots usually appear after a week, after which the container should be moved to the window (to the light). Temperature regime should be reduced to 16–18°C. During this period, seedlings will continue to appear, the entire germination process can take about a month.

Plant picking is performed when at least 2-4 leaves appear on the sprout. When they grow to five pairs, the top is pinched, this procedure necessary for the formation of the bushy structure of vervain.

Note!

For growing a plant on a balcony, ampelous verbena is best suited (see photo). This type the most suitable for planting and care at home, and the final size of the flower allows you to successfully grow it in a standard pot or hanging planter.

Ampel verbena is a worthy alternative to petunias in hanging baskets and planters

The technology for sowing verbena seeds for seedlings is shown in the video:

Vervain cuttings

In the presence of a mother plant, you can use another method of propagating verbena - using stem cuttings. So flowering bushes can be obtained faster than when sowing seeds. In addition, there are vegetative varieties of verbena (for example, the Veralena series), which are propagated only by cuttings.

Cutting technology is not complicated:

Cut off a green, non-lignified shoot 5-7 cm with several internodes (2-4). If there is an inflorescence at the top of the shoot, cut it off.

The lower leaves must be removed, exposing the bottom of the stem
To speed up rooting, powder the cut of the cutting with Kornevin or its analogues. This stage is optional; in the spring, rooting successfully passes without the use of stimulants.
The bottom of the cutting is deepened into the ground by at least one internode. The leaves on the recessed part are cut off. The soil should be light, for example, store-bought universal soil + baking powder.
From above, a container with a planted cutting is covered with a bag or cut plastic bottle with a hole at the top (for ventilation).
They put the cutting in a shaded place, keep the soil constantly moist, until rooting.

The stalk takes root in 2-4 weeks. The signal that the roots have already appeared is the appearance of a new growth.

How to cut vervain and get a lot of almost adult seedlings from one bush, see the video:

And here are already rooted vervain bushes from cuttings:

Landing in garden flower beds and pots

For planting verbena in open ground, it is best to choose a well-lit place, as the plant is very thermophilic and grows well even in dry conditions.

The soil should be loose, light, it should first be ennobled with humus and fertilized with a special composition (for example, humus). Ideal PH 5.8-6.2.

Be sure to exclude the appearance of frost. Despite the cold resistance of adult plants, seedlings can slow down in growth when exposed to sub-zero temperatures. Transplantation of verbena to a permanent place is usually carried out in the middle / end of May.

Low-growing verbenas are planted at a distance of 20 cm from each other, ampelous and ground cover - at a distance of 25-30 cm. For tall species, even more space will be required, they are planted after 25-35 cm.

If planting is carried out in indoor planters, drainage must be done. To do this, a layer of pebbles or expanded clay is laid on the bottom of the container, only then the form is filled with soil mixture.

The same verbena - Lanai Blush White - but already in hanging boxes

Transplantation is carried out by transshipment. This means that the sprout is removed from the container along with a clod of earth. So the root system of the plant will remain intact, and it will quickly take root in a new place.

Ready pots are exposed to the sunniest place, where it is possible to create a constant flow of fresh air for the plant.

The main nuances of care

With the correct planting of verbena and quality care, the plant will bloom profusely from the end of May to the end of October inclusive, the inflorescences are distinguished by their attractiveness, you can evaluate their tenderness and beauty from numerous photos of flowers.

Regardless of the conditions for growing verbena (street / indoor), it is necessary to provide the plant with ideal conditions:

the temperature should vary in the range of 22–28 degrees, with a significant increase, experienced flower growers advise covering the vervain with a light cloth or temporarily transferring it to the shade;
the same applies to lighting, scorching sunlight can lead to rapid drying of the earth and leaves;
complex fertilizer is applied 1 time in 2-3 weeks throughout the entire flowering period;
water the verbena after the top layer of the soil dries out; it is not recommended to spray the leaves and the top;
after watering loosen the soil - this improves the aeration of the roots;
to prolong the flowering period, faded inflorescences are cut off;
as necessary, you need to trim the overgrown shoots, this will help form an attractive flower cap.

Verbena in composition with petunia in a hanging planter

Diseases and pests of verbena

The diseases that verbena is most susceptible to are:

- a white powdery coating forms on the surface of the leaves and flowers, the lower leaves turn yellow and sag, gradually the entire bush turns yellow and dies without treatment;
gray rot - spots appear on the leaves, buds and flowers rot, infected tissues are covered with a gray dusty coating;
root rot - the plant turns yellow and fades, the roots become dark brown.

All these diseases of fungal origin occur as a result of improper watering or infection. Fungicides are used for treatment.

Of the pests, vervain is attacked by:

Thrips - pierce and suck out plant cells, as a result of which silver-gray "moves", spots appear on the surface of the leaves. With a high level of infection, the leaves dry out.
- pierces the sheet tissue, leaving small yellow dots on it. Lives and feeds on the underside of leaves. With a high population forms a web.
- feeds on vegetable juice, piercing the tissue. This slows down growth and can cause leaf death.

Insecticides are used to kill aphids and thrips. spider mite an acaricide is needed.

Healthy, vigorous plants are less prone to pests. Therefore, when growing verbena, the main thing is to pay attention to proper agricultural technology.

How to save verbena in winter

To ensure proper wintering, garden vervain is cut to 1/3 in late autumn, and then dug up so that the roots of the plant are completely covered with earth. Best of all, such cuttings will be preserved in dark cellars.

Home flowers before the arrival of the first frosts are moved to a warmer, brighter place. The temperature in the room should not exceed 15 ° C, otherwise an active vegetation process will begin.

The stems are shortened by half, and the resulting inflorescences are periodically removed until spring. At the end of February, the remaining trunk is shortened as much as possible and transplanted into a new pot, with a complete replacement of the soil. So you can save last year's vervain, which will still bloom in the new season (that is, make it a perennial even in our climate). However, most often it is used as a mother plant for cutting cuttings and growing new young bushes.

We invite you to watch a video about grafting an overwintered verbena mother liquor:

If you strictly follow all these recommendations, then next season the verbena will grow more actively and new flowers will quickly grow on it!

Verbena is a flower that is grown by more than one generation of flower growers - lovers. In addition to being a beautiful plant, it is also useful ( verbena officinalis), and is fairly easy to grow. In nature, there are about 120 species of this plant. Among them there are both annual and perennial species, there are also semi-shrubs and creeping ones, which we willingly grow as ampelous plants. Verbena is often called " pigeon grass". I have not been able to find a clear explanation for this name. But verbena is attributed to a great many different magical properties- from kindling love, to the ability to open locks and constipation.

She was revered by the Druids, and the ancient Greeks with the Romans, and Christians revere. It is believed that it is watered with the blood of Christ. It is quite difficult to confirm or refute all this, but what is known for certain is that verbena is magnificent medicinal plant used both in folk and official medicine for the treatment of many diseases.

The most popular species among flower growers is considered "". It is she who can most often be found in flower beds and flower beds.

Growing verbena from seed

Like most annual garden flowers, it is preferable to plant vervain seedlings in open ground. But sowing seeds directly into the ground is also practiced. This method is more suitable for southern latitudes, where spring comes much earlier.

The most suitable time for sowing verbena seeds for seedlings is mid-March. If you sow them earlier, then due to the lack of light, the seedlings will not grow evenly, artificial supplementary lighting will be required. With late sowing (in April), it will bloom on the flower garden only by mid-summer.

Preparation of verbena seeds for sowing

Verbena Care

Watering

Watering vervain is required only when necessary, but without allowing the soil to dry out for a long time. Otherwise, if the plant does not dry out, then due to the poor development of the roots, it will be frail and stunted. No less dangerous for her is excessive moisture, fraught with rot, fungal diseases. The combination of watering and loosening the soil after them will have a beneficial effect on the plant. At the end of summer, regular watering stops.

top dressing

There is no need for frequent feeding of vervain. It will be enough 3-4 dressings with mineral fertilizer or one organic. Overfed vervain will be reluctant to bloom. Especially if the fertilizer contains a lot of nitrogen, which stimulates the growth of green mass at the expense of flowering.

pruning

In order to achieve long-term flowering of verbena, it is important not only to remove faded inflorescences in time, but also to cut off long shoots (in ampelous varieties, in particular). They are cut to about a quarter of the length.

Verbena after flowering and seed collection

Verbena can bloom until the first frost. After flowering, fruits remain on it - nuts with seeds. Ripened seed pods are colored dark - Brown color. After drying, they can be opened and the seeds removed.

wintering verbena

This plant is grown here mainly as an annual. It is not capable of enduring our winters. But the life of verbena can be extended by transferring it to the category of indoor plants. To do this, before the onset of frost, they dig it out together with a clod of earth and place it in a flower pot. If you put verbena in ordinary room conditions, then it may continue flowering for some time, but this is usually where its further existence ends. In order to keep verbena until next spring and, depending on your desire, to achieve its flowering at home or for planting in open ground, it needs to provide a dormant period. It will be concluded by placing it in cool conditions. The temperature should not exceed + 10-12 degrees. With more high temperature possible growth of new shoots, and even the onset of premature flowering. In this case, it may be necessary to remove the inflorescences and trim the shoots.

Reproduction of verbena cuttings

Usually, verbena, stored for the winter, awakens at the end of winter - the beginning of spring. This is the best time to get a new plant from cuttings. They are taken from the tops of the shoots. Each stalk of vervain must have at least four pairs of leaves, while the lower pair is removed after cutting. The cuttings are planted in separate containers with a mixture of sand and peat, deepening them to the first lower node. Containers with cuttings are covered with a cap made of glass (jar) or a plastic bag. Optimal conditions: good lighting and temperature + 20-22 degrees. In about a month, the cutting will grow its own viable roots. After that, young vervain can be transplanted into more nutritious soil. The advantages of propagating vervain by cuttings are not only that you will get a stronger and more suitable plant for planting in open ground, but all the varietal characteristics of the mother plant will be preserved, which is not always possible when growing from seeds.

Verbena from seeds (video)

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Verbena, a cult plant of the Druids and Celts, is also called “cast-iron grass”, “tears of Juno”, “blood of Mercury”, “veins of Venus”, “grass of Hercules”, revered as the guardian of the hearth and well-being. Planting and caring for verbena is a kind of ritual, the implementation of the rules of which will decorate garden plot long flowering charming flower.

Preparing to plant vervain

"Cast-iron grass" is unpretentious, it is not difficult to grow it if you follow a number of rules. How to care for a planted flower, we will tell in the article.

Landing dates

Verbena in the temperate latitudes of Russia is planted in flower beds in seedlings. Small seeds are sown at the turn of winter and spring - in the last days of February or early March. Seeds sprout quickly enough, sprouts appear at the end of the second week, but the heat-loving flower should get stronger before planting in the open air.

In warm southern regions, seeds are sown in open ground, the recommended time is the end of April. They are guided by specific weather conditions - the night temperature should not fall below -3 ° C, the daytime temperature should stay consistently above zero. Strong grown seedlings are planted in flower beds in the last decade of May, when warm weather finally sets in.

Site selection

Verbena loves warmth and favors direct sunlight. For planting, choose areas illuminated by the sun for almost the whole day, or semi-shaded corners. Like all southerners, she does not like drafts, so the growing place must be protected from the wind.

Note! For verbena officinalis, the place where it grows has special meaning because it is for internal use.

The distance from the carriageway of the roads should be more than 50 m, a green “wall” is desirable, protecting the plantings from urban dust.

Soil preparation

To the soil, “cast iron grass” is not too picky. Fertile loams are an ideal substrate, but verbena normally develops and blooms on depleted sandy soils. The main requirements for the soil:

neutral;
breathable;
well drained.

The soil before planting is prepared as follows:

dig to a depth of 20-30 cm;
if necessary, deoxidize with dolomite flour or wood ash;
depleted land is fertilized with compost;
dense clay soil is diluted with coarse sand.

Selection and preparation of planting material

On a note! In our country, “Hercules grass” is grown as an annual, since it freezes in winter, with the exception of the “perennial direct”, “lemon” and “medicinal” species.

Let's take a brief look at the types of verbena, the seeds of which are sold in stores, and their description. V. hybrid (verbena hebridia) or thinly dissected - the most popular among flower growers. Compact plant, creeping stems, height up to 50 cm. Flowers of different colors. Conditionally divided into two lines:

large-flowered (varieties "etna", "julia", "cardinal");
compact (varieties “amethyst”, “pink delight”, “crystal”).

B. Canadian - up to 20 cm tall, flowers of white, lilac, pink flowers and their shades. V. Buenos Aires (Bonar) - height up to 120 cm, flowers are small, lilac.

V. ampelnaya for hanging planters. The length of the hanging shoots is 50-60 cm, it forms compact inflorescences. V. perennial straight - reaches one and a half meters in height, has long, up to 40 cm, inflorescences with lilac flowers. Frost-resistant look. Planting and caring for perennial verbena is simple, the technique is similar to growing other species. B. officinalis, 80 cm tall. Valued for beneficial features: stabilizes blood pressure, cleanses the blood and improves its composition, has antiviral, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects, normalizes metabolism.

On a note! Verbena officinalis acquires the maximum healing properties during flowering; harvesting for future use begins in the second decade of August.

B. lemon reaches a height of 2 m, is usually used as an essential oil plant, dried leaves and inflorescences are used to make health teas.

Verbena is yellow perennial, creeping shoots, the color of the flowers is varied. Abundant long flowering depends on the quality of planting material. Domestic seed producers with an excellent reputation are Aelita, Gavrish, SeDek, Poisk, Siberian Garden. Seeds can be collected independently: seed boxes are collected from faded shoots, mature ones are painted brown. The collected raw materials are dried at room temperature and then extract the seeds. Shelf life - up to 5 years.

Remember! Such seeds often do not inherit the varietal properties of their parents.

Pre-sowing preparation of seeds:

Stratification - the seeds are wrapped in a damp cloth, put in a bag and cleaned in the cold for 5 days.
Soak in warm water for 1 to 3 days. You can use a stimulant solution (soak time according to the instructions).

How to plant seedlings

Seedling planting algorithm:

Holes are dug in the prepared area, the dimensions of which correspond to the earthen dimensions of the seedling coma, the depth is slightly larger.
The bottom of the hole is covered with drainage - pebbles or expanded clay of fine fraction.
Pour 0.5 liters of water into each well if the soil is dry.
Seedlings with an earthen clod are placed in the hole.
Top up the soil, lightly ramming.

Distance between bushes:

compact forms - 20-25 cm;
creeping - 25-30 cm.

garden care

It is not difficult to take care of the “cast iron grass” in the garden: timely watering, top dressing, soil treatment will ensure long-term abundant flowering.

Watering frequency and water quality requirements

Watering flowers need regular, moderate, stagnant moisture or drying out of the soil is unacceptable. The first half of summer is characterized by active growth of bushes, so verbena is watered every 3-4 days in the absence of precipitation. Dry periods accompanied by intense heat require daily watering, but the amount of water per plant is reduced. From mid-July, they gradually reduce, by the beginning of autumn they stop completely. Water for irrigation is desirable soft - rain, warmed up in the sun. Tap water is used, allowing it to settle for several days.

Selection and schedule of fertilizing

Organics are applied once - in the spring, two weeks after planting in open ground. The optimal composition of the first feeding: 1 liter of mullein solution and 1 tbsp. a spoonful of potassium sulfate is diluted in 10 liters of warm water. Before flowering, it is recommended to feed every 12-15 days, using the Agricola solution and nitrophoska (1 tablespoon each) per 10 liters of water. Consumption rate - 2.5-3 l / sq.m. The introduction of minerals is possible throughout the season, using ready-made complexes - "Kemira", "Agricola", "Fertika", about which gardeners give positive feedback.

Mulching and loosening the soil

Loosen the soil regularly, usually after each watering, to improve root aeration. According to common practice, loosening is mandatory while the plant is gaining strength. When the root system grows, the procedure is carried out less frequently. Young plants are weeded weekly until they grow; weeds in single plantings are removed throughout the season. Mulching facilitates the work of caring for verbena in the open field: weeds do not have the opportunity to grow, moisture is better retained. The easiest option is overripe leaves.

On a note! Mulching with decorative materials gives the vervain growing in the garden an additional showiness.

Pinching

The pinching procedure enhances the branching of the bushes. The first time pinching seedlings at the stage of 5-6 leaves. Subsequent pinching is done as needed if the plant produces few side branches. Be sure to remove faded shoots so that the forces of the plant are directed to the formation of new buds, the flowering period is extended until frost. Planting and caring for perennial verbena are carried out using a similar technology. A few words about the wintering of verbena. In the open field, a frosty winter is tolerated by perennial straight verbena, medicinal and lemon verbena, and yellow verbena. Before the onset of cold weather, the stems of plants are cut at the level of the soil and cover the base of the bush using dry leaves, spruce branches, and sawdust.

With the rest of the verbena species in the fall, they act as with annuals: the dry residues are disposed of, the earth is dug up. Some of the bushes are transplanted into pots in order to use them as sources for obtaining cuttings.

Pest protection

By itself, verbena has a strong immunity against pest attacks. If you violate the rules of care, it may be attacked by aphids or spider mites. Against them, insecticides are used or they are fought with folk remedies.

Disease prevention

Vervain rarely gets sick. It is affected by fungal diseases: powdery mildew, black leg, etc. This happens with a systematic violation of watering and feeding regimes. If you notice the first symptoms, use fungicides. For prevention, bushes are sprayed monthly with a weak solution of potassium permanganate or watered with water infused with ash.

Reproduction methods

Like most flowering perennials, verbena is propagated in three ways: growing from seed, cuttings, and dividing the bush.

Note! The division of the bush is practiced only for the propagation of verbena officinalis. It is not recommended to divide bushes of other species.

Reproduction of verbena cuttings

The method is used to propagate varieties that do not produce seeds, rare or valuable hybrids. Cutting algorithm:

The mother bush is dug up with earth in the fall (the more earthen lump, the better) and placed in a pot.
The container is placed in a cool room - a basement or a heated balcony is suitable.
In early March, cuttings are cut - the tops of shoots with 10-12 leaves. The lower section is 1 cm from the lower kidney.
Remove all leaves except for the top pair.
For rooting, containers with drainage and a substrate consisting of sand or its mixture with peat are used.
The cuttings are buried in a moistened substrate by 1 cm. They make a mini-greenhouse.

The root system of the cuttings will begin to grow in about 20 days. The appearance of new leaves or shoots is a sign that rooting went well.

Caring for cuttings is similar to caring for seedlings.

On a note! You can grow verbena not only in a flower bed, but also at home on a well-lit windowsill. Cuttings for planting are cut at any time.

Planting cuttings in flower beds is carried out on time and according to the rules provided for seedlings.

Reproduction by seeds

Seed germination algorithm:

Pre-sowing treatment (see above).
Sow seeds from the second half of March. Seeds sown earlier require additional illumination. With a later sowing, verbena will begin to bloom from mid-July.
The container for sowing needs a shallow one, with drainage holes.
The substrate is light, loose, moisture-permeable; fertility is not required from him. Use universal soil for seedlings, where sand or vermiculite is added. Be sure to decontaminate before sowing.
The substrate is moistened, the seeds are laid out on the surface.
The seedling container is covered with a film or glass and placed in a warm (+ 25 °) place. The level of illumination at the first stage is not important.
When the seeds germinate, the container is moved to a cool (+ 17 ° C), well-lit place.
Crops are regularly ventilated, condensate is removed from the lid, if necessary, the substrate is moistened from a spray bottle.
The lid is removed completely when the seedlings form the first pair of true leaves.

A multi-colored "lawn" of verbena is grown not only in flower beds. The flower develops well at home, decorating the interior. Flowers look great on the balconies of city houses - bright fragrant oases that delight the eye. The ampelous species, grown in hanging planters, is placed on verandas, terraces, gazebos are decorated. Planting and caring for verbena outdoors does not require much effort. Unpretentiousness, ease of care make the flower a welcome decoration of the garden. Proper care behind the flower will allow it to bloom profusely until the arrival of the first frost.