Garden verbena (Verbena hybrida) is a spreading, free-blooming annual cherished for its rounded clusters of small, vivid flowers in red, purple, pink, white and blue, often with contrasting eyes. Heat-tolerant and long-flowering, it trails gracefully from pots, baskets and window boxes and carpets borders with colour. Verbena thrives in full sun and well-drained soil, blooming for months when regularly deadheaded. A magnet for butterflies and bees, it is both ornamental and pollinator-friendly. Easy to grow and drought-tolerant once established, garden verbena is a dependable performer for Indian balconies, terraces and sunny beds seeking continuous, low-care colour.
Specifications
| Family |
Verbenaceae |
| Native region |
South America (hybrid origin) |
| Mature height |
15-30 cm |
| Mature spread |
30-60 cm |
| Growth rate |
Fast |
| Foliage |
Toothed, dark green leaves |
| Flower colour |
Red, purple, pink, white, blue, bicolour |
| Flower season |
Winter to early summer |
| Climate zone |
Subtropical and tropical (cool to warm season) |
Care guide
| Sunlight |
Full sun, 6+ hours for best bloom |
| Watering |
Moderate; let surface dry between waterings |
| Soil / mix |
Well-drained, fertile soil |
| Temperature |
15-30 C; tolerates warmth, frost-tender |
| Humidity |
Prefers moderate humidity |
| Fertilizer |
Balanced feed every 2-3 weeks |
| Pruning |
Trim and deadhead to keep compact and blooming |
| Repotting |
Annual; refresh each season |
| Propagation |
By seed or stem cuttings |
| Pests & problems |
Watch for whitefly, aphids and powdery mildew |
| Toxicity / safety |
Non-toxic to pets and humans |
| Difficulty |
Easy |
Uses
Ideal for hanging baskets, window boxes, ground cover and sunny borders. Its trailing clusters attract butterflies and bees.
Growing tips
In India grow as a cool-to-warm season annual, sowing October-November for long winter-spring bloom. Give full sun and good drainage, and shear lightly mid-season to renew flowering.