Butterflies love Verbena and so do I. I recently discovered this beautiful plant on a visit to my favorite nursery. I love the vibrant colors which I learned were naturally red and purple, before growers produced a blue variety like the one above. You can find Verbena in both annual and perennial varieties. The three I bought are all perennial, so they’ll last longer than one season in my garden. Verbena is known for its vibrant flower clusters,and is   perfect for your butterfly garden. It’s beautiful whether found trailing over rock walls or as  an edging in a garden.
I’m not sure which is my favorite color. I really like the dark purple seen above. Verbena  is heat tolerant and isn’t particular about soil, but it does require good drainage. They can withstand cooler temperatures, so last longer into the season than some other plants.. Verbena likes full sun and grows 8 to 12 inches tall. They also flower better with regular watering and it’s best to water them at the base to avoid wetting the foliage. Light fertilizing helps provide continuous bloom. The easiest way to tell the perennial varieties, is by the leaves, which have a toothed edge and are lightly covered with fine hairs.

I really like the bright red color of this last plant. I think I’ll have to go back to the nursery next week and see what other colors are available.