VERBENA. Vervain. The Americas, widespread. A large group including annuals, perennials and a few shrubs. They have toothed or dissected leaves and usually small, irregular, two-lipped flowers, often opening in head-like clusters near the tips of gradually elongating stalks. The following with one exception are low, spreading perennials, useful for ground cover and low borders. Sun, reasonably well drained soil, moderate to occasional watering when established. Hardiness varies.

‘Aphrodite’. One of the best low growing selections to come along in recent years. It forms a low mat, spreading 2-4', with dark, dissected leaves. It is liberally dotted with short clusters of purplish pink flowers, outlined in white, most of the year. Probably 0^oF.

‘Blue Princess’. Though it needs space to roam, this is one of the best of all verbenas for the garden. It makes lush mounds about 1’ high and up to 5’ broad (perhaps more, if the stems root as they travel). It has bright green dissected leaves and covers itself with clusters of large lavender-blue flowers in summer.

bonariensis. One of the giants of the group, and very different in habit from any of the better-known species. It produces several erect, angled 3-4' stems from a stout rootstock. These are lined at wide intervals by 2-4" conspicuously toothed, dark green leaves. Clusters of small violet blossoms are produced almost continuously at the shoot tips. Evidently 18^oF or less.

canadensis. How many of the plants currently offered under this name actually belong to the species is probably anyone’s guess. Most look suspiciously like V. x hybrida, the traditional garden verbena. Whatever the truth may be, there are some attractive selections now available under this label. These are mounding perennials under 1’ tall, with rich, dark green, partly dissected leaves. They give an abundance of colorful summer flowers in large clusters. ‘Homestead Purple’ is a popular cultivar with deep green leaves and vivid purple flowers. Others come and go. If these are the real thing, they should be hardy nearly to 0^oF.

‘Dorothy Burton’. A larger selection overall, growing about 1' high and 5-6' broad. It has dark, narrowly parted leaves. The flower clusters are exceptionally large, purplish pink in color. Probably also 0^oF.

lilacina. A native of Baja California, this promises to be a useful ground cover for difficult situations, for example dry banks. It is usually 1' high or less, spreading to 3' or more. The deeply cut leaves resemble those of V. tenuisecta, below, but are lighter green. It blooms continuously from spring to fall, bearing clusters of lilac-colored blossoms with the fragrance of heliotrope. 18^oF or less.

peruviana ‘Red Devil’. I have grown many selections of V. peruviana, and this one is clearly the most impressive thus far. It actually presses against the ground, making a solid mat with dark, toothed leaves. The flowers are of the brightest red I have seen in a verbena. 15^oF or less.

‘Sissinghurst’. Winner of an Award of Garden Merit in England, this is a robust selection, making dark mats 4' or more in width. The flower clusters are large and colored a deep rose pink. Probably 0^oF.

Tapien series. A group of recent hybrids marketed here under agreement by Euro American Propagators. They offer low, dense growth, attractive dark foliage, and flowers in several shades not seen in most verbenas. They are named according to color—unfortunately, not very accurately. My personal favorite is ‘Tapien Blue’, actually closer to violet. ‘Tapien Pink’ is also nice. There are several others. Probably 0-10^oF.

tenuisecta. Moss verbena. This is a mounding plant, around 1' tall and 4' broad in the parent material. The shiny 1" leaves are deeply and narrowly parted. It is nearly everblooming, with dozens of violet-colored blossoms borne over several weeks or months from each stalk. Apparently 20^oF or less.