Container Gardening Plants: Trailing Verbena

Verbena Hybrids

Verbena Hybrids are one of my favorite plants to use in containers. These hybrids are sometimes referred to as trailing but the growth habit is more spreading than trailing. The plant grows out, up and sometimes down all at the same time. These hybrids are a great choice to use as a filler plant especially in larger containers.

The Aztec series, Superbena and Babylon series are a few of the hybrids of this plant. Colors come in white and several shades of red, blue, purple, lavender and pink. Flowers grow in clusters and can be small and dainty or large and bold. Some flowers have a white eye in the middle which is particularly striking in the darker purple and red shades. Others are solid colored flowers which gives the plant a different look.

The foliage on most verbena hybrids is similar to the upright variety with dark green compact serrated leaves. I’ve always found the foliage of this plant to add great texture and interest to any container. The Babylon hybrids, however, have wonderfully lacey and delicate foliage. The flowers tend to be smaller but still grow in large clusters and are quite striking.

The best thing about these plants is that if you don’t deadhead them, they will continue to flower throughout the summer. If you do deadhead them you will be handsomely rewarded with a plant covered in lush blooms.

Verbena hybrids prefer full sun and moderate water. They are incredibly versatile and combine well with grasses, osteospermum, malvia, coleus, petunias, guara, bacopa and sweet potato vine. With all the color choices and foliage interest, this plant is indispensable to container gardeners.

Growing Art: Container Garden Design of the Week

Purple Passion

Plants: 1 purple osteospermum, 2 Aztec Plum Magic trailing verbena, 4 Regatta lobelia in shades of blue, white and lavender (Part-sun)

This combination is perfect for an eastern exposure. Each plant actually has different sun requirements but can and does work together in the right location. I have a tendency to stretch plants out of their comfort zone a little bit to get the combinations that I want. More often than not, I am rewarded.

In this case, the osteospermum is a true part sun plant. It doesn’t like it too hot but still needs enough sun to flower well. The trailing verbena is a full sun plant and the lobelia likes to be in the shade. The eastern exposure gives all three of these plants enough of what it needs so the combination works. Morning sun is cooler so the lobelia will do fine and it’s still enough sun for the verbena. The osteo is in its element.

My 4 year old son chose this combination (with just a little help from mom) and thusly the heavy purple palate because that’s what he likes. I had just purchased these great lime pots so the result was quite fantastic.

First he chose the purple osteos which for containers is a great focal plant. It does have a great mounding habit in the garden but has enough height that it works as an upright plant in containers. Next he chose the trailing verbena in Aztec Plum Magic which coordinated nicely with the lighter purple of the osteos. This plant has a semi-trailing habit so is a perfect contrast with the fullness of the osteo. Last, we chose Regatta lobelia in shades of blue, white and lavender. This is also a semi-trailing plant which tends to trail more if it has nowhere else to go. In this case, between the osteo and the verbena it doesn’t so it trails down the container.

The result was quite stunning with the purple flowers against the lime green of the container. This combination is a good example of how your container choice can influence and enhance your flower choice.