Verbena Bonariensis South American Vervain

Verbena Bonariensis is a deciduous perennial herb with the RHS AGM and a riot of tall delicate stems topped with rich purple flowers in summer. It’s a good choice for mixed borders and pollinator-friendly gardens.

Verbena Bonariensis is also known as South American Vervain because it’s native to the South American regions of Brazil, Columbia and Argentina. In some regions of the world, it’s called ‘purple-top’ for its rich mid-purple flower heads made up of tiny flower clusters. Verbena’s purple flower heads are very attractive to pollinators and it holds the RHS Perfect for Pollinators badge as a result. They bloom in mid-summer and can continue to bloom until autumn on tall arching stems that can cope with vigorous breeze.
South American Vervain has very few leaves, but those it does have are dark green, slender and held close to the stems. When it’s planted in a swathe, verbena retains its airy structure allowing plenty of light and breeze through. This means you can grow sun-loving plants around it.

Height And Spread of Verbena Bonariensis
South American Vervain can reach several metres in height and spreads over 50 cms.

How Hardy is Verbena Bonariensis
This is a hardy perennial through most of the UK if its roots are well-drained. In cold areas, a layer of thick mulch will help protect the crown.

How To Use Verbena Bonariensis
This is a perfect perennial for prairie planting and wall side grass borders in informal gardens where it adds height and colour. It’s also an excellent coastal plant and suits gravel or rock gardens because it likes to soak up the sun.
South American Vervain is a good way to add interest to the back of a border without planting a large shrub that takes up light and room. It’s a flowing perennial that lets light and air flow through its wiry branches.

How To Care For Verbena Bonariensis
Verbena Bonariensis is easy to grow and maintain. Choose well-drained soil of any type including chalk and clay in full sun and Verbena will create a beautiful pollinator-friendly display.
There’s no need to prune because the plant dies down over winter, but in cold areas of the UK it’s a good idea to cover the crown with a layer of mulch to protect it from heavy rain and frost.