It went on to do really well, and produced masses of lovely mauve flowers.
It eventually grew to about 5 feet tall - which is why I had bought it. I had wanted something to add some height to my collection of potted flower plants, and it certainly did that.
When Autumn came and the Verbena stopped flowering, I cut the stems down to about 12" tall.
I'm not sure now whether I did the right thing. Encouraged by our currently very mild weather, the stems of this and many other plants are now beginning to sprout new shoots.
I need some advice please. Should I now cut last year's stems right down to ground level, or should I let them carry on and grow those new shoots? And do you think I should re-pot this plant (maybe into a bigger pot) or just top it up with a bit of fresh compost?
All advice gratefully received!
Verbena b is absolutely lovely. We have a few plants on our allotment, in amongst the autumn fruiting raspberries, where it acts as a bee-magnet just as the raspberries are setting flower. Works a treat.
ReplyDeleteNot sure about the pruning though, but I'd guess if it's re-growing it must be reasonably happy? Only danger might be that it gets a bit top-heavy later in the year if there's a lot of new growth starting a foot or so up the main stems?
I have Verbena bonarensis. It attracts butterflies especially the one called Painted Lady, Vanessa cardui, here in the US.
ReplyDeleteIt is a very tough, carefree plant. I cut mine back every year when it starts to look brown, ugly and tired. It returns fresh and green quite quickly with a bit of irrigation, but is not dependent up on it if rain is adequate. Don't let it get soppy wet. I cut it back to two nodes on the stem and pull off the ugly brown leaves. If you leave leaves more higher up, it gets too floppy. It is more compact with only the few nodes on the stem and those that appear at the base. Besides it looks much better that way. My very old one looks like the brand new one in your top photo. I gave it this treatment a couple of weeks ago. Our nights are about 45F or 7.2C.
Your pot. I like the edging. It's is going to be too small and you will have to water it too often
DeleteI would certainly tidy it up but why prune it to ground level? But you could as long as you left some length for it to resprout. Here in Nova Scotia, in a sheltered spot, I still have a six foot plant tucked in a corner. I doubt it will make it through the hard winter though. Don't worry, you will have seeds sprouting next spring, or even sooner in your climate. I just wonder if you couldn't root those little fresh green sprouts? might be worth a try.
ReplyDeleteMine grow in the ground, Mark but I don't cut them back until I see new growth coming from the base in early spring. At the moment the seed heads are blowing around scattering seed that will hopefully give me lots of self sown seedlings. I often find these between paving blocks and gently pull then out and pot up to grow on. They are quite prolific and so some have to be discarded.
ReplyDeleteI leave all of mine over winter & cut down in spring. I'm not an expert but I'm pretty sure they self seed too so you should have some new seedlings scattered around your garden.
ReplyDeleteI would leave them until March, then cut down 4/5 . stems, put the cut stems into the ground or pots, almost guarantee they will make new plants. Then plant the growing plant into another pot or preferably in the ground. Good luck, will be interesting to see what happens later in the year. Beautiful plant, I have them growing everywhere and wouldn't be without them, so useful to the bees and butterflies. Look forward to photo's later.
ReplyDeleteHi Mark, I'll throw my vote in with the others...wait until spring to cut down. I love mine so much. It's become a staple in my garden for height and attracting pollinators. I won't cut mine down until March.
ReplyDeleteHi Mark, I'm in New York, but have grown this plant for years. We've had the same very warm fall you've had, and are only now starting to get more than a day or two at a time with nights/days below freezing. I wold leave the plant --and its unfortunate new growth- completely alone for now. Come spring, I would the plant down to about half of what you have now. I would also repot it into a larger pot at that time, or consider digging it in, directly into the ground. A different approach is to chuck what you have and simply sow fresh seed under lights about 6 weeks before your last frost date. They're absurdly easy to grow from seed, and as several other respondents have noted, you may find opportunistic seedlings popping up next spring that you can transplant-- the trick is recognizing them as something other than weeds. Best of luck to you. I enjoy your blog very much, so thank you!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Tracy. I'm glad you enjoy my blog. I have taken some Verbena cuttings today, and top-dressed the parent plant with fresh compost. If any of the cuttings take, I will probably risk re-potting the parent.
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