Verbena will become a real decoration and harmonious addition to any garden or flower garden. This unpretentious plant features a bright flower and a long flowering period. Perennial varieties are actively used in the field of landscape design.
What types of vervain are the most popular? How to care for a flower? We find out the interesting and necessary facts.
Detailed characteristic of plant species with a photo
The birthplace of the flower is North and South America. This is an annual or perennial plant with different variations of names. (blood of Mercury, iron grass, tears of Juno, sorcerer plant).
In our country, the flower is usually grown for 1 season (cultivated as an annual). The height depends on the particular variety: from 25 cm to 1.5 m.
The plant is characterized by jagged leaves in the form of an elongated oval and bright inflorescences (1 can contain up to 50 small flowers). The color is expressed in a wide range of shades: from delicate pastel to rich dark.
Specific external characteristics depend on a particular variety. Among the common characteristics note:
- stems are straight or creeping;
- flowering period from early summer to October;
- each flower has 5 petals (corolla shape);
- heat-loving character;
- the seeds are small in size and ripen in small boxes.
Ideas for use - decoration of flower beds and flower beds, the creation of decorative elements (pots), planting in hanging baskets.
Buenos Airesca Verbena
This is an unpretentious subspecies, which is distinguished by purple inflorescences and straight stems. The diameter of the inflorescence is not more than 5 cm. Their smell and brightness attract bees. Verbena Buenos Ayresskaya quickly adapts and takes root with any other varieties of flowers. In warm climates it is used as a perennial, in a cold one - as an annual (planting of seedlings).
Initially, the subspecies grows in 1 stem, then processes are formed from the lateral sinuses and the main stem is woody. The height of the bush is 120-130 cm. The shape of the leaves is lanceolate, elongated, cloves are visible along the edges. Mass ripening and flowering occurs in September.
Verbena Bonar
It is a semi-shrub with a direct stem, whose height reaches 100 cm. The subspecies has a wide distribution in the field of decorative floriculture. The foliage of emerald green and openwork forms, flowers are collected in dense umbrellas.
The predominant color of inflorescences is purple. In our country, Bonarskaya Vervain is grown as an annual (reproduction through seedlings). Sow the seeds in the soil mixture should be in early March, and ready seedlings to be planted in open ground no later than the end of May.
NOTE! With a suitable climate (warm autumn), verbena breeds by self-sowing. For the next season, these shoots will have a slow development, but by August they will fully bloom.
Important advantages of the subspecies - resistance to slight autumn frosts and the lack of careful maintenance. It is enough to plant the plant in a sunny place where the soil is fertile and drained. As a result, a dense lilac mist of bright flowers will envelop the flower garden, attracting bees and butterflies. The subspecies also remains fresh for a long time in a cut form.
Below is a video about Bonarskaya vervain:
Home
Vervain home variety is popular for indoor cultivation. This is a low annual (up to 50 cm), with a flower of a regular round shape, unlike in Buenos Aires Verbena. Among other characteristics, there are:
- shoots tetrahedral and branched;
- leaves are triangular, surface is rough;
- shoots covered with tough hairs;
- pleasant aroma of inflorescence;
- a variety of colors (verbena pink, red, blue with a white eye or the same type).
Spear
At home, the subspecies grows on the shores of rivers and lakes, preferring moist rich soils. Winter in the soil can only in Europe. The plant is distinguished by its graceful appearance, stem height (up to 1.5 m), inflorescence in the form of a spear.
Common colors are blue, purple. Also, vervain is spear-like - it is a great honey plant, it emits a fragrant, rich aroma. Flowers can crumble quickly, but even a half-crumbled inflorescence retains the original and beautiful appearance.
Canadian
The peculiarity of Canadian Vervain is a low stem (not higher than 20 cm). The stem is tetrahedral in shape (not like a Bonar variety), around it are carved leaves in pairs.
Buds are collected in bunches. Among the possible color options for flowers are pink, white, pale lilac.
Yellow perennial
This is a voluminous small bush with elongated leaves. The shoots of verbena are yellow creeping, small inflorescences are placed on their tops.
Leaves are down, the surface is hard. Differs variety variety of colors.: From pale blue to deep purple.
General rules of care
The process of disembarkation and further care does not require excessive effort. When performing several simple actions, you can extend the period and the abundance of flowering. What is care?
- In the first 7 days after planting in open ground infrequent moderate watering is obligatory.
- During the flowering period, watering does not end, it should be stopped only at the end of fruiting (closer to autumn).
- After moistening the soil should be loosened.
- To save water in the ground will help the mulch. Both leaves from neighboring trees and decorative mulch are suitable for this.
- To bloom was abundant, you need to timely cut the faded inflorescences.
- 2-3 times per season should be made mineral dressing. An overabundance of such elements in the soil will entail an active growth of leaves, not flowers.
IMPORTANT! With proper care and regular watering, the plant is not prone to disease. When the aphid invasion is allowed to use insecticides.
It is possible to achieve the colorful effect of flowering of vervaina during mass planting of seedlings. You can dilute the plantation with marigolds, asters, decorative varieties of cereals - this will add to the flower garden of originality and uniqueness.
Conclusion
Verbena of any variety is an unpretentious and beautiful plant, which in our country is mainly grown for 1 year (annual). Small and bright inflorescences will occupy a worthy place in any garden and will decorate it before the first autumn frosts. This is especially true varieties of Buenos Aires and Bonarsky.
