💜 Verbena 'Purple Top' 💜
💜 Airy, long-lasting clusters of vibrant purple flowers! 💜
🦋 A favorite of butterflies and bees! 🐝
⬆️ Adds beautiful vertical interest to your garden. ⬆️
☀️ Thrives in full sun. ☀️
🪴 Prefers well-drained soil. 🪴
💧 Water regularly until established; more drought-tolerant after. 💧
✂️ Deadhead spent flowers to encourage continuous blooming. ✂️
Verbena 'Purple Top' Plant Guide
(Cultivar of Verbena bonariensis)
Description: Verbena 'Purple Top' is a popular and striking perennial (often grown as an annual in colder climates) known for its airy, open clusters of vibrant purple flowers held high on slender, wiry stems. It adds fantastic vertical interest and a touch of elegance to the garden. Its long blooming season and attractiveness to pollinators make it a valuable addition to many landscapes.
Key Features:
* Flowers: Numerous small, intense purple flowers clustered in flat-topped heads.
* Stems: Slender, upright, and often branching, giving a see-through quality.
* Leaves: Small, lance-shaped, and often inconspicuous compared to the flowers.
* Height: Typically grows to a height of 3-6 feet (0.9-1.8 meters) with a spread of 1-3 feet (0.3-0.9 meters).
* Blooming Period: Long-lasting, from summer through fall, often until the first frost.
* Attracts: Highly attractive to butterflies, bees, and other beneficial insects.
* Deer Resistance: Generally considered deer-resistant.
Growing Conditions:
* Sunlight: Full Sun (6-8+ hours daily) is essential for best flowering and sturdy growth. Plants may become leggy and produce fewer flowers in partial shade.
* Soil: Well-drained soil is crucial. Verbena 'Purple Top' dislikes soggy conditions, which can lead to root rot. It is adaptable to a range of soil types, including clay, loam, and sandy soils, as long as drainage is good.
* Watering: Regular watering is needed, especially when plants are young and establishing. Once established, it is relatively drought-tolerant but will appreciate occasional watering during prolonged dry spells. Allow the top inch of soil to dry out between waterings. Avoid overwatering.
* Temperature: Hardy in USDA zones 7-11 (as a perennial). In colder zones, it is typically grown as an annual. It thrives in warm temperatures.
* Fertilizing: Generally, Verbena 'Purple Top' is not a heavy feeder. Avoid over-fertilizing, as this can lead to excessive foliage growth at the expense of flowers and weaker stems. A light application of a balanced liquid fertilizer every 4-6 weeks during the active growing season can be beneficial, especially in poor soils.
* Pruning:
* Deadheading: Regularly remove spent flower clusters to encourage continuous blooming throughout the season. Simply snip off the faded flower heads just below the cluster.
* Late Winter/Early Spring: If grown as a perennial, you can cut back the dead stems to a few inches above the ground in late winter or early spring before new growth emerges.
* Propagation: Can be propagated by seed (self-seeds readily), cuttings, or division (though division can be challenging due to its taproot).
Planting Instructions (for Plugs or Established Plants):
* Choose the Right Time: Plant after the last spring frost.
* Select a Sunny Location: Ensure the planting area receives at least 6 hours of direct sunlight daily.
* Prepare the Soil: Loosen the soil and amend with compost if needed to improve drainage and fertility.
* Dig the Hole: Dig a hole slightly wider and as deep as the root ball of your plant.
* Plant Carefully: Gently remove the plant from its container and place it in the hole, ensuring the top of the root ball is level with the surrounding soil.
* Backfill: Fill the hole with soil, gently firming it around the base of the plant.
* Water Thoroughly: Water well after planting to settle the soil.
* Space Appropriately: Space plants 12-18 inches apart to allow for good air circulation and growth.
* Mulch (Optional): Apply a thin layer of organic mulch around the base of the plants to help retain moisture and suppress weeds. Keep mulch away from the stems.
Care Tips for Success:
* Monitor for Pests and Diseases: Verbena 'Purple Top' is generally relatively pest and disease resistant. However, keep an eye out for common garden pests like aphids or spider mites, especially in stressed conditions. Good air circulation can help prevent fungal diseases.
* Provide Support if Needed: In very windy locations or if plants become exceptionally tall and leggy, you may need to provide some support with stakes or netting to prevent stems from breaking.
* Self-Seeding: Be aware that Verbena 'Purple Top' can self-seed readily. If you want to control its spread, deadhead diligently before seeds mature. You can also collect seeds to sow in other areas if desired.
Uses in the Garden:
* Borders and Beds: Adds height and airy texture to flower borders and beds.
* Cottage Gardens: Fits perfectly into informal cottage garden styles.
* Pollinator Gardens: An essential plant for attracting butterflies and bees.
* Cutting Gardens: The long stems and beautiful flowers make it excellent for cut flower arrangements.
* Containers: Can be grown in large containers, providing vertical interest.
* Wildlife Gardens: Its attractiveness to pollinators makes it a valuable addition to wildlife-friendly landscapes.
With its stunning purple blooms and easy-going nature, Verbena 'Purple Top' is a fantastic choice for adding color, height, and pollinator appeal to your garden! Enjoy watching the butterflies dance around its flowers! 💜🦋🐝