Verbenas are one of summer's most reliable performers. Right now, they are producing dense clusters of small, vivid blooms in shades ranging from deep purple to soft pink, red, white, and apricot. Their long flowering season, low-maintenance nature, and ability to attract pollinators make them a genuine asset in any UK flower bed. Whether you want bold colour, structural interest, or something to fill a gap, there is a verbena for the job.
What Do Verbenas Look Like Right Now?
At their summer peak, verbenas are hard to miss. The flowers are small and five-petalled, carried in tight, domed clusters that sit above the foliage like little fireworks. The colour range is impressive - you will find rich purples, warm pinks, vibrant reds, clean whites, soft apricots, and delicate lavenders, as well as bicoloured varieties with contrasting eyes.
The foliage is dark green with a slightly rough, textured surface. This contrast between the coarse leaves and the jewel-bright blooms gives verbenas a freshness that holds up well even in the heat of midsummer.
Growth habits vary considerably. Trailing types spread low across the ground or spill over container edges. Upright, mounding types form neat, compact domes. Then there is Verbena bonariensis, which looks entirely different from bedding verbenas. It produces tall, wiry stems that can reach up to 1.5 metres, topped with small, airy clusters of violet-purple flowers. It has a transparent, see-through quality that makes it one of the most versatile plants in a mixed border.
The Main Types of Verbena and Their Visual Character
Understanding which type of verbena you are working with helps you place it correctly in a border.
- Trailing verbenas grow low and spread outwards, creating a carpet-like effect. They typically stay under 30 centimetres in height and are ideal for the front of a border, raised beds, or hanging baskets. Their sprawling habit softens hard edges beautifully.
- Upright or mounding verbenas form rounded, bushy plants at a similar height. They add structure and form to the mid-border without overwhelming neighbouring plants.
- Verbena bonariensis is the architectural choice. Its tall, slender stems create vertical interest and allow you to see other plants growing behind it. At Cedar Nursery, we find it works particularly well planted in drifts, where the massed effect of its purple flowers creates a haze of colour across the border.
How Verbenas Can Improve a Flower Bed
Verbenas do more than simply look attractive. They actively improve the function and appearance of a flower bed in several ways.
- Sustained colour: Verbenas flower from late spring right through to the first frosts. When many summer plants begin to fade in August, verbenas keep going, providing reliable colour at a time when borders can look tired.
- Layering and structure: Upright types add height and form. Trailing types soften edges and link different planting zones together. Verbena bonariensis adds a vertical layer that draws the eye upwards.
- Filling gaps: Verbenas establish quickly and spread to fill bare patches. This reduces the opportunity for weeds to take hold and keeps the border looking full and well-planted.
- Pollinator appeal: The clustered flowers are a magnet for bees and butterflies. Adding verbenas to a border brings movement and life, and supports local pollinator populations throughout the season.
- Drought tolerance: Once established, verbenas cope well with dry spells. This makes them particularly useful during the drier months of the UK summer, reducing the need for constant watering.
- Versatile companions: Verbenas pair well with ornamental grasses, salvias, lavender, and silver-leaved plants. Their relatively simple flower form complements more complex or textural neighbours without competing.
Best Planting Positions for Verbenas in a Flower Bed
Verbenas need sun to perform well. Aim for a position that receives at least six hours of direct sunlight each day. A south or west-facing border is ideal. At Cedar Nursery, we notice that plants grown near a warm wall or south-facing fence consistently flower more freely and for longer.
Well-drained soil is essential. Verbenas dislike sitting in wet conditions, which can cause root rot and encourage powdery mildew on the foliage. Raised beds and sloped borders suit them well for this reason.
Place trailing and mounding varieties at the front to middle of the border. Position Verbena bonariensis towards the middle or back, where its transparent stems allow you to see through to the planting layers behind.
Colour Combinations That Work Beautifully
One of verbenas' greatest strengths is their ability to act as linking plants in a mixed colour scheme. Here are some combinations worth trying.
- Purple Verbena bonariensis with yellow rudbeckias or orange heleniums - a bold, warm contrast that peaks in late summer.
- Pink trailing verbenas alongside white alyssum or silver dusty miller - soft and romantic, ideal for cottage-style beds.
- Red verbenas with deep blue salvias - high contrast and striking, particularly effective in formal or contemporary borders.
- Lavender verbenas softened with ornamental grasses such as stipa or pennisetum - naturalistic and movement-filled, well suited to prairie-style planting.
Verbenas work especially well as a thread running through a mixed scheme, repeating their colour at intervals to create visual rhythm across the border.
Quick Care Tips to Keep Verbenas Looking Their Best
- Deadhead regularly to encourage continuous flowering and prevent the plant from putting energy into seed production.
- Water at the base of the plant rather than overhead to reduce the risk of powdery mildew on the foliage.
- Pinch back young plants to encourage a bushier, more compact habit.
- Feed with a balanced liquid fertiliser during the growing season to support sustained flowering.
- In autumn, cut back lightly and clear away spent growth. Avoid hard pruning until spring, once the risk of frost has passed.
Frequently Asked Questions About Verbenas
When do verbenas flower in the UK?
Most verbenas begin flowering in late spring and continue through until the first frosts of autumn. This gives them one of the longest flowering seasons of any summer bedding plant.
Are verbenas perennial or annual?
It depends on the type. Verbena bonariensis is a perennial that often self-seeds freely, returning year after year. Most bedding verbenas are grown as half-hardy annuals in the UK, as they are not reliably frost-hardy in colder regions.
How tall do verbenas grow?
Trailing and mounding bedding verbenas typically stay under 30 centimetres. Verbena bonariensis is much taller and can reach up to 1.5 metres in good growing conditions.
Do verbenas come back every year?
Verbena bonariensis is reliably perennial and self-seeds prolifically. Bedding verbenas are best treated as annuals and replanted each season, though they may survive mild winters in sheltered spots.
What grows well with verbenas in a flower bed?
Verbenas combine well with salvias, lavender, rudbeckias, ornamental grasses, heleniums, alyssum, and silver-leaved plants such as stachys or dusty miller. They act as excellent linking plants in mixed colour schemes.
If you would like to explore our current selection of verbenas and companion plants, visit Cedar Nursery in Cobham, Surrey. Our team is happy to help you choose the right varieties for your border, whether you are starting from scratch or looking to fill gaps in an established planting scheme.