Verbena rigida 'Santos'
verbena - Santos Purple
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- Standard £5.95
This perennial dies back to below ground level each year in autumn, then fresh new growth appears again in spring.
- Position: Full sun
- Soil: Moderately fertile, moist, well-drained soil
- Rate of growth: Average to fast
- Flowering period: June to September
- Hardiness: Borderline hardy (may need winter protection in colder areas)
Highly sought after by bees and butterflies, this wonderfully shrubby and long-flowering verbena is ideal for wildlife-friendly gardens. ‘Santos’ is an improved and denser flowering form of the species (Verbena rigida), and is an invaluable addition to mixed or herbaceous borders, where its clusters of bright purple blooms will add lashings of bold colour over several months from early summer.
In areas prone to frost apply a deep, dry winter mulch around the crown of the plant. Lift and divide large clumps in spring, replanting divided specimens with lots of well-rotted organic matter.
Early sowings can be started off from February,in seed trays kept under glass before hardening off and planting out. Alternatively, after the worst frosts have passed, sow directly into a sunny, well-prepared seedbed, thinning the seedlings out to 45-60cm as they grow. Pinching out the growing tips will encourage bushier plants to develop.