Verbena rigida (syn. v. venosa) slender vervain

Slender vervain is a South American perennial from Brasil and Argentina which is cultivated in temperate parts of the world as a self-seeding annual. It usually germinates only when the weather has turned really hot which is mid to late June in Central Europe and starts to flower within a few weeks afterwards. Plants that were overwintered in a pot indoors and planted out in spring will flower about a week earlier.

Slender vervain makes lax corymbs or short terminal spikes composed of salverform flowers of vibrant magenta colour atop 40-60 cm tall, many-branched, slightly procumbent stems. Leaves are quite handsome, mid green, lance-shaped, coarsely toothed, and rough. Flowering lasts until the last sunny and warm days of autumn, commonly early to mid October.

The plant hates too much water and naturally occupies dry slopes and plains. It is not fussy about soil pH, it will live in almost any free-draining soil. Feeding is not necessary but selective fertilizes may promote formation of new flowers during summer. Perennial hardiness is irrelevant if the plant is cultivated as a self-seeding annual.

Last update 11-11-2021