By Charlotte Torgovitsky.
Why Verbenas Deserve the Spotlight
Verbenas are hardy fall-blooming perennials; either small shrubs or spreading groundcovers of varying heights. The verbenas mingle well in mixed borders, and they bloom almost any time of year and attract a lot of pollinators. Highlights of a Marin habitat garden include both California native verbenas and non-native verbenas, which extend the season of resources for pollinators- providing nectar in late summer and early fall when fewer nectar sources are available. Verbenas are essential plants for sustaining butterflies, bees, and other beneficial insects.
Verbena bonariensis (Tall Verbena / Brazilian Vervain)
If you are new to ‘gardening for butterflies’ plant Verbena bonariensis. The flowers on this tall plant provide nectar that is irresistible to the adults and can enable you to identify which butterfly species are present in your area. Then you can also establish the larval host plants for the butterfly species to create resources for the entire life cycle in your garden sanctuary.
Verbena bonariensis is an upright clumping perennial from Argentina with dark purple flowers in abundance on airy stalks that can be up to 4 feet tall. This plant will happily reseed itself within the garden; we let it grow where it wants to as long as it is not in the middle of our pathway!
Verbena rigida ‘Polaris’ (Slender Vervain)
Verbena rigida ‘Polaris’ is also native to Argentina. It is a good low-growing spreading perennial, and wonderful mingler in a mixed border planting. The flowers are a very pretty shade of light blue on stalks about a foot high.
Verbena lilacina (Cedros Island Verbena)
Verbena lilacina is a California native sub-shrub originating from the Channel Islands. It grows into a compact shrub about 2 to 3 feet high and wide. ‘De la Mina’ has purple flowers, ‘Paseo Rancho’ has flowers that are ‘pinkish’. It is a beautiful multi-season bloomer, including Fall!
Lippia/Phyla nodiflora (Frogfruit)
‘Frogfruit’ (Lippia (Phyla) nodiflora) is in the verbena family. It is a very low ground cover and will grow and spread in very poor soil and even gravel. The plant can be walked on; it just doesn’t bloom where it extends into pathways. It is a great lawn alternative. The flowers are small and attract small insects as well as the small butterflies like the grass and spread-wing skippers, field crescents, and the ‘gossamer winged ones’ like the purplish copper and the dainty ‘blues’.
Growing Conditions & Companion Fall Bloomers
Verbenas do best with full, hot sun and are drought tolerant. They are all deer resistant, or even deer proof, depending on the tastes of your local ‘deer family’. Other reliable fall bloomers that pair well with verbenas are Baja Pitcher Sage (Lepechinia hastata) and the California Fuchsias (Epilobium spp.). Together, these plants help support butterflies and other pollinators during a time of year when nectar sources can be limited.
Visit Home Ground Habitats in Novato
Home Ground Habitats offers a wide selection of native and non-native verbenas for sale.
We invite you to visit during our open hours—Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 1 to 4 PM—to explore our plants and learn more about creating a thriving habitat garden.
You can view our full plant inventory at www.Calscape.org.
Every purchase directly supports our mission to donate habitat plants and provide educational opportunities to local schools and community projects. Your support helps foster biodiversity, promote sustainable gardening throughout our community.