Verbena Plant
A genus containing as many as 250 species, verbena plants are flowering plants that are annual or perennial in nature. These herbaceous plants have semi-woody branches. Most verbena species have their origin in North and South America; however, few of them are also found in Europe.

Verbena Plant

Flowers of verbena plants vary in color and following are few of the commonly observed ones; purple, white, mauve, red, apricot and pink. Let us have a look at the different types of verbena plants.

Purple Verbena Plant
The purple verbena plant grows well in soils that are rich in organic matter. Peat moss or compost can be added to the soil and mixed thoroughly. The purple verbena is known to produce blooms in a prolific manner and therefore, a monthly dose of fertilizers is recommended. A bushier growth can be promoted by trimming the branches lightly. Watering should be done in late afternoon. Care should be taken to see that the leaves don't remain too wet. The problem of mildew can affect the plant if water stays for a long time on the leaves.

Lemon Verbena Plant
The lemon verbena plant which is known by the scientific name, Aloysia triphylla grows up to a height of 15 feet and blossoms in the summer season. Flowers produced by this plant are lavender in color. This plant is native to South America and its commercial production mostly takes

place in North Africa and France.

Lemon verbena is used for both medicinal and culinary purpose. Its use in herbal lemon verbena tea and adding fragrance to rice is well-known. Leaves of lemon verbena are placed on loaf pans before the batter for cake is poured over them. Aromatic oils released by the leaves help in adding flavor to the cakes.

Almond Verbena Plant
The almond verbena, also known by the name, sweet almond verbena is a native of Argentina. This plant is known for the fragrance it produces and therefore, attracts many insects. The cultivation of almond verbena in US is mostly done in Texas and California. It is a perennial woody shrub and and grows well in full sunlight.

Cultivating the almond verbena is easy because, the plant grows well with modest amounts of fertilizers and water. It can be grown in hardiness zones 8 - 11. Pruning of almond verbena is done in between two blooming cycles.

Verbena Plant Care

Verbena plant requires well-drained soil. Quality of the verbena to tolerate dry conditions makes it suitable for growing in water scarcity zones. It is recommended to grow verbena in USDA zones 2 - 8. Saplings need to be planted in spring, in a moderately fertile soil. Saplings devoid of flowers are considered to be the best for planting. Energy spend in nourishing the flowers is thus, saved and root growth takes place vigorously. The site chosen for verbena plantation should be the one which receives full sunlight. However, it is better to have a shady place for new saplings grown in a warmer climatic zone. Watering should be done only when the need arises. Care should be taken to see that the root zone is not stagnated with water.

It is recommended to use a slow release fertilizer for verbena plants. Compost fertilizers are spread in soil near roots at the time of planting the saplings. Deadheading is a practice of removing faded flowers in order to promote further blooming. Just clipping off the upper part of the flower stalk (¼ th inch) serves the purpose. Read more on composting.

There are different verbena plants described in the article. Information about these plants should help in growing them properly.