Verbena officinalis

Genus: Verbena

Species: officinalis

Family Name: Verbenaceae

Seed Catalogue No.: 1274A

English Name(s): Vervain, Simpler's Joy

Hardiness: Hardy

Lifecycle: Perennial

Colour: Purple/Lavender

Flowers: July, August, September

Lighting Conditions: Full Sun

Soil Type: Clay, Chalk, Sand, Loam

Soil Acidity: Alkaline, Neutral

Moisture: Well-drained

Germination Instructions

Sow indoors in spring or sow under glass in autumn. Under glass, surface sow seeds onto moist, well-drained seed compost. Just cover seeds with a sprinkling of soil. Place in a cold frame or greenhouse. Keep moist. Natural winter cold will offer ideal conditions for the seeds to germinate in spring as the weather warms. Indoors, mix seed with some damp vermiculite or compost and cold stratify, temp. 4°C, a fridge is ideal, for 6 weeks then remove to warmth for germination. Simply sprinkle the mix containing seeds onto seed compost, keep moist until germination occurs. Transplant seedlings when large enough to handle. Acclimatise and plant out once danger of frost has passed.

Growing Instructions

Grow in a mass for best effect. Pinch back when first planted to encourage branching. Water deeply to encourage root growth.

Cultivation Instructions

If sown early it will flower in the same year. Cut and come again variety. Cut flowers regularly to encourage growth and to prolong flowering window. Deadhead if you do not want it to self-seed. Cut back in spring once new shoots emerge at the base.

When to Sow

• Sow Under Cover/Plant Indoors
• Flowers/Harvest

Approximate number of seeds per packet: 332

Please note we pack the majority of our seeds by volume so the number of seeds indicated is only an approximation.