Available 7-4-2013
Verbena 'Blue Princess' is a verbena hybrid from England that came to us via plant explorer, Greg Grant, of Texas. A hummingbird treat, the large, blue-purple flower heads (RHS 87A) exude a terrific fragrance...sort of like those expensive QVC perfumes. Verbena 'Blue Princess' is one of the most exciting verbenas in color, fragrance, and foliage I've ever seen...FABULOUS! Pot Size: 3.5" (24 fl. oz/709.77 ml)
Verbena bonariensis is the ultimate perennial for both experienced perennial border designers as well as beginning gardeners. The blue-purple (RHS 82A), large marble-sized, branched flower clusters are borne all summer on 30" tall stalks above the narrow see-through foliage. Verbena bonariensis (latin for "Buenos Aires") is great in the garden or in flower arrangements...a hummingbird favorite. In good soils, you will find a few seedlings scattered around the garden making their own combinations! Pot Size: 3.5" (24 fl. oz/709.77 ml)
(formerly sold as Verbena canadensis 'White') Verbena canadensis 'Snowflurry' is the most popular verbena we have ever named or offered! This semi-upright, white-flowered verbena is a virtual flowering machine. To the delight of hummingbirds, our plant has not been out of flower in the last 2 years, with the heaviest flowering in spring and fall...it also comes true from seed. Pot Size: 3.5" (24 fl. oz/709.77 ml)
This wonderful hummingbird attracting verbena was discovered by the Georgia Gang (Mike Dirr and Allan Armitage) at where else...an old homestead. This vigorous grower is literally covered with medium dark purple flowers backed by clean, dark green foliage all summer...WOW! Verbena 'Homestead Purple' can leap small plants in a single bound, so be careful to only use it in the proper place...large expanses like service stations and interstate medians, or to cover junked cars. Pot Size: 3.5" (24 fl. oz/709.77 ml)
I picked up this hot little number on a recent trip to Texas (don't tell my wife). Verbena 'Mabel's Maroon' is one of the most unique colors we have seen in a verbena...sort of a fluorescent maroon (RHS 71A). You can easily imagine this Texas verbena's tolerance to intense heat and sun. Expect heavy flowering from mid-spring into early fall...a hummingbird hangout. "Mabel" does not have the vigor of Verbena 'Homestead Purple' and therefore may be easier to use in combination with other plants. Pot Size: 3.5" (24 fl. oz/709.77 ml)
Verbena 'Mystic' is a verbena that first appeared at Plant Delights as a hybrid seedling between Verbena 'Blue Princess' and Verbena tenuisecta 'Michelle'. The result is an airy, amazingly vigorous cutleaf verbena that is topped, virtually all year, with light lavender flower clusters (RHS 87C)...a hummingbird delight. I should qualify "vigorous," in that it is nothing like the often-voracious Verbena 'Homestead Purple'. If you're looking for a great garden performer, I think you will be pleased with Verbena 'Mystic'. Pot Size: 3.5" (24 fl. oz/709.77 ml)
This verbena species is a very low grower, perfect for a sunny rock wall. In 2002, we saw this growing in the wild at the base of an Argentine tree cactus in the dry mountains of northern Argentina. Verbena peruviana has tiny leaves and is smothered with brilliant, true red flowers (RHS 45A) from spring through summer...a hummingbird delight. More water...more flowers. You will need sunglasses when you look at this one too long...very bright! Pot Size: 3.5" (24 fl. oz/709.77 ml)
We were shocked to find that our Verbena 'Blue Princess' engaged in an after-hours unprotected liaison, not far from the nearby Juniper Level Baptist Church. Not only does the princess's offspring have good blood, but it's also a stellar performer. Our original clump of Verbena 'Princess Bride' reaches 1' in height to 3-4' in width and is topped from April (NC) until frost with 2" flower heads of medium pink (RHS 66D), lightly fragrant flowers, each highlighted with a dark maroon center (RHS 74A)...attractive to hummingbirds. There were other offspring from the rendezvous, but so far, no others have measured up to the royal family standards. Pot Size: 3.5" (24 fl. oz/709.77 ml)
(aka: Verbena sp. D29-47) We are pleased to introduce this fantastic Yucca Do selection from the extreme southern tip of Brazil. In appearance, it looks like a flat growing form of Verbena tenuisecta, but after handling our brutal 2010/2011 winter without a blink, we knew we had something special. The 1" tall drought-tolerant carpet of finely dissected green foliage is topped all spring and summer with short 2" tall spikes of medium purple flowers. Verbena 'Lavender Frappe' makes a 3' wide patch in one year. We have no idea how much winter cold this will tolerate further north, so send us some feedback! Pot Size: 3.5" (24 fl. oz/709.77 ml)
(syn. Verbena 'Clear Red') If you want to add a nice red accent to the perennial border, here is the plant for you. Verbena 'Summer Blaze' keeps flowering and flowering and flowering...well, you get the picture. You will love the brilliant, clear-red flowers (RHS 45A) on this vigorous verbena...a hummingbird haven. Pot Size: 3.5" (24 fl. oz/709.77 ml)
(aka: Verbena canadensis 'Rosea', Verbena 'St. Paul', Verbena 'Texas Tuff Pink') This has long been recognized as one of the finest verbenas for a summer show...a hummingbird favorite. The narrow, cutleaf foliage spreads rapidly to make a 3-4' mound in one season. From early spring until frost, Verbena 'Sissinghurst' is topped with hundreds of coral pink flowers (RHS 57A)...a true lover of hot weather. Pot Size: 3.5" (24 fl. oz/709.77 ml)
This amazing verbena appeared as a seedling near our back deck; hence, the name. Verbena 'Decked Out' has sailed through our miserable winters in great shape and rewards us with a constant show of rich, fluorescent purple flowers all summer...a hummingbird treat. The non-aggressive habit makes it perfect for fun "plant marriages." Oh sorry, I forgot the courts ruled that those weren't legal, but they can still cohabitate in all states except South Carolina. Pot Size: 3.5" (24 fl. oz/709.77 ml)
This is a Texas selection of verbena from our friend Greg Grant. The vigorous, long-flowering Verbena 'Texas Appleblossom' has large flowers of cotton candy-pink (RHS 57C/D) with a contrasting, dramatic white eye...attractive to hummingbirds. This verbena really grabs the attention of visitors to our garden. The flowers fade from bright pink to white, creating a stunning effect. Pot Size: 3.5" (24 fl. oz/709.77 ml)
Verbena 'Tie Dye' is the latest verbena creation from Texas plantsman, Greg Grant. Frequently visited by hummingbirds, the mauvy-lavender flowers are each surrounded by a wide white border...unlike any verbena I've ever seen. Pot Size: 3.5" (24 fl. oz/709.77 ml)
This Greg Grant collection from Sabine County, Texas, represents a bit of a horticultural mystery. Greg collected the original cuttings as Verbena canadensis, but the plant habit is nothing like typical Verbena canadensis. We suspect this may be the rare natural hybrid of Verbena canadensis and Verbena bipinnatifida, which herbarium taxonomists recently declared doesn't exist. Sorry to disagree, but this isn't straight Verbena canadensis and anyone who says it is has been smoking verbena. For us Verbena 'Rosie' makes a large patch to 1' tall x 5' wide in a single season. Like Verbena canadensis, Verbena 'Rosie' does most of its flowering in early spring, rests through the summer, then flowers heavily again in fall. Pot Size: 3.5" (24 fl. oz/709.77 ml)
Do you need something really bold and brazen in your garden and can't afford a bronze of Dennis Rodman? Try the Mexican Verbesina microptera. This steroidal version of our small-statured US native was collected by the folks at Yucca Do in Mexico (coll #T72-75). After years of trials, we have been thrilled with its performance. Each 10' tall giant is composed of amazing, thick, green, heavily-winged stems that are clothed with 15" long, mitten-like leaves...reason enough to grow this gem. In late October, unless you've had an early frost, these massive clumps are topped with 1' wide clusters of small, bright yellow daisies that are deliciously fragrant. Pot Size: 3.5" (24 fl. oz/709.77 ml)
While driving through Jonesboro, Arkansas, in 2000, I spotted this selection of giant ironweed. Most of the clones of Vernonia altissima had fallen over due to their height and flower head weight, but this clone stayed wonderfully upright. Cuttings were taken, and we are pleased to report it has also remained vertical in our garden trials. Vernonia 'Jonesboro Giant' forms a clump of 10-12' tall stems, clothed in dark green leaves and topped with large clusters of dark purple flowers starting in mid-August...attractive to hummingbirds. The giant clumps sway a bit in the breeze, but so does the Sears Tower. Warning lights may be required in some jurisdictions...please check local flight path maps. Pot Size: 3.5" (24 fl. oz/709.77 ml)
(aka: Vernonia angustifolia A2GA-003B) In 1998, I found this wonderful selection of the Southeast native (NC to Mississippi), Vernonia angustifolia, growing on a grit outcrop in Turner Co., Georgia. Despite being discovered and named by the famed plant explorer, Andre Micheaux, more than 200 years ago, narrow-leaf ironweed is surprisingly absent in horticulture. The robust 4' tall stalks of narrow, green amsonia-like leaves are topped, starting in July (NC), with 8" wide, branched, airy flower heads of dark purple flowers...an attractive target for hummingbirds. This clone holds its large flower heads upright better than any of the others we have trialed. Pot Size: 3.5" (24 fl. oz/709.77 ml)
Available 6-20-2013 This fascinating ironweed hails from Arkansas and Oklahoma where it can be found in rocky soils and on rock outcrops. Imagine taking an Amsonia hubrichtii, shrinking it to 2' tall x 2' wide, shearing it into a round ball, then topping it with hundreds of purple flowers in August and early September, and you have Vernonia lettermannii...a hummingbird delight. We grow this in our hot, dry, scree garden, where it has caused visitors to lust in their hearts. We give in...here it is. This rare native was named for the late botanist George Letterman, who, as best we can determine, never had his own television show. Pot Size: 3.5" (24 fl. oz/709.77 ml)
Veronica 'Hocus Pocus', from the breeding program at Walters Gardens, has been a winner in our trials, forming a 8" tall x 20" wide mound of luscious green leaves that are topped, starting in May, with hundreds of 1' tall spikes of blue-purple that continue into the summer. Veronica 'Hocus Pocus' fits well in both a well-drained rock garden or perennial border. Pot Size: 3.5" (24 fl. oz/709.77 ml)
.jpg "Verbena peruviana (Verbena)")
.jpg "Verbena 'Tie Dye' (Tie Dye Verbena)")
.jpg "Vernonia altissima 'Jonesboro Giant' (Jonesboro Giant Ironweed)")
