Vibrant Verbenas

Towering stems of V. bonariensis add height and drama to this arrangement of yellow fennel flowers and pale-purple scabiosa. A ball of chicken wire in the neck of the pitcher holds the stems upright.

Verbenas are a staple of the summer garden, useful in a variety of situations. Verbena bonariensis lines a walkway at Montgomery Place, a 207-year-old estate in Annandale-on-Hudson, New York.

Planted in front of a border, tall specimens of V. bonariensis provide an intriguing scrim through which to view the garden behind them.

V. 'Lanai Deep Purple' provides a dark note among the bright blooms of Zinnia 'Profusion Orange.'

V. 'Lanai Lavender Star' and V. 'Lanai Blush White' act as a bright foil for the dark purple Petunia 'Royal Velvet.'

V. 'Aztec Dark Red' is the hot focal point in this collection of containers, which includes Canna 'Pink Sunburst,' Euphorbia cotinifolia, and Hibiscus 'El Toro.'

Verbenas flourish in full sun and well-drained soil, as in this graveled entryway. Although drought tolerant, they will bloom longer and be more resistant to pests and disease if watered and fertilized regularly. Shown are V. rigida 'Santos,' 'Polaris,' and 'Blue Princess' with Agave 'Mediopicta Alba,' A. vilmoriniana, Stachys byzantina, Echeveria 'Rosea,' Sempervivum 'Krebs 2,' and Nasella tenuissima.

In this mixed container planting, the flowers of V. 'St. Paul' and the bright-green foliage of Lysimachia nummularia 'Aurea' spill over a pedestal from underneath a mass of Coleus 'Lemon Chiffon.'

The arching stems of V. 'Superbena Purple' and 'Raspberry Sorbet' intermingle with Stokesia laevis 'Blue Danube,' Gaura 'Karalee Petite Pink,' Sedum 'Frosty Morn,' and others, helping to unify the border while softening the hard edge of the walkway.

Verbenas in a hanging basket can, with time and care, become a ball of cascading color. Because of their exposed condition, such baskets will need frequent watering and fertilization to ensure continued blooms. V. 'Donalena Twinkle Pink' and 'Aztec Wild Rose' are shown.

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