Verbena Growing Guide
Growing Verbena is easier than you think. This guide walks you through everything you need — from planting your first seed to harvesting.
At a Glance
Difficulty
Easy
Category
Flower
Sun Exposure
Full Sun
Frost Tolerance
Frost Tender
Cold Hardiness
Survives to 2°C
Plant Family
Verbenaceae
Growing Season
Warm Season
Plant Lifecycle
Annual
Also grows well as
How to Start It
★ Recommended for beginners
Pick up young plants in spring for instant, reliable colour — the simplest route for bedding verbena.
Bedding verbena is a tough, low, spreading annual that flowers tirelessly all summer in clusters butterflies can't resist — and it laughs off heat and drought, making it ideal for hot beds, pots and baskets. (Its tall cousin, Verbena bonariensis, is a see-through border perennial grown much the same way.) Give it sun and good drainage, deadhead or shear when it tires, and it just keeps going.
When To Start
First Chance to Plant
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Last Chance to Plant
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When should you plant Verbena?
Your planting dates depend on your local climate. Sign up and add your location to unlock personalized dates.
Your Verbena Planting Window
Start planting
May 15, 2026
Last chance
Sep 10, 2026
The Journey Ahead
Verbena's Lifecycle
Seedling
Mature Plant
Seed Production
Step 2
Planting & Sprouting
Growing Tips
- 1Sun, heat, and sharp drainage are what verbena loves — it's a brilliant choice for hot, dry spots and containers that other flowers sulk in.
- 2Don't overwater or overfeed.
- 3A mid-season shear keeps it blooming and bushy rather than bare and leggy.
- 4Powdery mildew is the main niggle, and it's almost always a sign of poor airflow or dry stress, so space plants and water the roots.
Seedling Phase
Step 3
Growth & Maturity
30 cm
Mature Height
45 cm
Mature Width
Pests to Watch For
Diseases to Watch For
Mature Plant
Step 4
Harvesting
When to Pick
Blooms all summer to frost; thrives on heat and a bit of neglect
How to Harvest
- 1Deadhead or, easier, shear the whole plant back by about a third when bloom slows or it gets straggly — it bounces back with fresh flowers within a couple of weeks.
- 2Let it dry between waterings (it's drought-tolerant and dislikes soggy soil, which brings mildew and rot).
- 3Feed lightly in containers.
- 4Take cuttings in late summer if you want to keep a variety over winter.
Step 5
Saving Seeds
Seed Production
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