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Verbena hybrida is a beautiful herbaceous plant with a fairly long flowering period. Known since the ancient Celtic civilizations. The plant was used as the main ingredient for the preparation of a love potion, various amulets and rituals. The followers of Christ believe that the sacred flower pierced the ground in places where drops of the blood of the Savior crucified on the cross fell.
Modern landscape designers successfully use hybrid varieties of vervain to decorate various territories.
Description of hybrid vervain
Verbena hybrida, Verbena Hybrida, is a miniature shrub with branched stems. It is characterized by a pleasant aroma of inflorescences, which intensifies after sunset.
The plant has the following characteristics:
- the root system is fibrous;
- plant height 15-60 cm;
- leaves are opposite, elongated;
- the shape of the lower leaves is heart-shaped;
- leaves and stems covered with gray hairs;
- in places of contact with the ground, the stems form adventitious roots;
- the shape of the inflorescences is an umbrella-shaped ear;
- the number of flowers on one inflorescence is up to 30 pieces.
Each individual flower has 5 delightful petals.
Basic Forms
In Our Country, various forms of verbena are cultivated: ground cover, creeping, upright plants that form a fairly extensive bush, up to 20 cm high, ampelous, tall and dwarf.
Verbena hybrid flowers delight with a riot of colors and colors: from plain (blue, purple, pink, orange, white) to variegated.
The bright color of numerous flowers makes hybrid vervain the most sought-after crop in landscape design.
Varieties of hybrid verbena
More than 250 varieties of hybrid vervain serve as a decoration for gardens, parks, and house adjoining territories. The most popular are the following
- Several varieties from the Quartz series (Quartz) are ground cover hybrids. Plants are distinguished by exceptional decorative properties. The most popular variety is Quartz White (Quartz White) – early, long-blooming crops. Low-growing, densely branched bushes of ground cover hybrid verbena, whose height reaches 25 cm, can be used to decorate borders, planters and flowerpots.
Large flowers of the groundcover variety Quartz White bloom a week earlier than other plants
- The variety Quartz Burgundy strikes with the splendor of long flowering, which is characterized by a bush height of up to 25 cm.
Burgundy quartz is distinguished by large flowers of a spectacular cherry tone, with a characteristic eye with a purple border
- The variety of hybrid vervain Quartz Pink is perfect for decorating outdoor flowerpots, mixborders.
Quartz Pink blooms with bright pink buds of medium size
- The variety of ampelous vervain Ideal impresses with the widest color palette and variety of shades.
Variety Ideal is able to win the love of flower growers once and for all
- A bright and alluring variety of ampelous verbena Lucifer is resistant to temperature extremes, long and lush flowering.
Bright scarlet Lucifer is one of the most popular hanging varieties of verbena, which is characterized by especially large flowers.
- The unique ampelous variety Zvezdny Khorovod is characterized by large, dense, umbrella-shaped inflorescences up to 15 cm long. The plant looks great in outdoor flowerpots, pots, on lawns, in symbiosis with tall crops.
Ampel Star Dance is represented by many bright colors
- Variety Snow Queen refers to the type of ampel verbena. The plant is characterized by medium-sized flowers, the length of the inflorescences is up to 20 cm.
The Snow Queen is presented in white and a variety of pastel shades of lilac, pink and purple.
- Ampel varieties of hybrid verbena from the latest Tuscany series are able to produce additional roots on overgrown lashes, which can be periodically pinned to the soil and hilled. Tuscany plants are characterized by such signs: resistance to pathogens and temperature extremes, long and lush flowering. The culture is distinguished by its small size, exquisite and exotic color combinations, resistance to temperature changes and pathogens, and the longest flowering period. Tuscany Lavander Picotee is a muted lavender color that forms a solid carpet in the beds, while maintaining an interval between plants of 20-25 cm.
Lavender Picoti looks perfect in Provence-style flower beds
- The Tuscany Pastoral variety is characterized by large flowers that look great in outdoor flowerpots, planters, mixborders.
Tuscani Pastoral is represented by an unusual range of colors from pale pink to deep purple.
- Varieties of dwarf verbena from the Quartz line are recognized as the most unpretentious for Our Country. Plants are characterized by the following parameters: small size of bushes – up to 30 cm; abundant flowering throughout the summer; subtle aroma.
Quartz Red – Spectacular, early dwarf verbena with small red flowers, great in outdoor pots, planters
- The dwarf variety Quartz Purple, due to its long flowering period, is successfully cultivated as elegant borders, bright accents in the beds.
Luxurious Quartz Purple – flawlessly beautiful, purple dwarf verbena with large flowers
- Alluring Quartz Scarlett with large scarlet buds is characterized by long flowering and resistance to temperature extremes.
Quartz Scarlett is planted in outdoor flowerpots, planters, hanging baskets, mixborders
- Peaches and Cream tall vervain variety is a delightful specimen, up to 40 cm high.
For tall Peaches and Cream, early flowering is characteristic
- The variety of Blue hybrid verbena with an eye differs in bush height up to 30 cm.
The blue hybrid vervain with an eye is characterized by abundant flowering of spherical inflorescences
- The popular variety size is characterized by long flowering of large inflorescences of rich pink color.
A variety of tall verbena size has a delicate aroma
Features of reproduction
There are several ways to propagate hybrid vervain:
- cuttings – used for hybrids that do not form seeds;
- dividing the bush of an adult plant;
- seed, with germination of seedlings from hybrid seeds.
For growing seedlings of hybrid vervain, you should choose selected plant seeds from trusted manufacturers
Application in landscape design
The use of hybrid vervain in landscape design is so widespread that many flower growers and professional gardeners prefer this culture for most areas of landscape design. Due to unpretentiousness, exceptional decorative properties of rich greenery and an extensive tint spectrum of colors, vervain is used on various objects:
- on clubs and beds to decorate areas that bloom throughout the summer;
- in mixborders (middle or background for tall varieties);
- in rock gardens to create bright color accents;
- on lawns as dominant elements;
- for the design of dense borders (undersized species);
- hanging pots;
- containers;
- outdoor pots and flowerpots.
With proper care, hybrid vervain is able to decorate any part of the local area with its lush flowering all summer long.
Rules of landing
Most often, hybrid vervain is grown from purchased seeds. In order to get healthy, profusely flowering plants, attention should be paid to seedlings.
When to plant hybrid vervain for seedlings
When growing hybrid verbena from seeds, it is necessary to plant seedlings in late February or early March. Planting material should be selected in specialized stores.
In the conditions of a shortened sunny day, the young shoots of the plant must be additionally illuminated
Preparation of containers and soil
For young shoots of hybrid vervain, a plastic or wooden box, peat container is suitable.
Soil for ideal seed germination needs loose, neutral, light, water and breathable:
- wood ash (in the amount of 1 large glass per 4 liters of soil mixture);
- garden land (1 part);
- peat (2 parts);
- sand (1/2 part);
- perlite (ratio of 2 large glasses to 4 liters of soil).
The soil mixture must be treated with a weak (0,5-1%) solution of potassium permanganate, calcined in an oven or steamed.
To increase the percentage and intensity of germination, the soil should be carefully sieved through a sieve to increase the level of friability
Seeding algorithm
Sowing seeds of hybrid vervain is carried out in several stages:
- before sowing, the seeds are soaked for 15-20 minutes in growth-stimulating preparations (Heteroauxin, Epin, Zircon);
- prepared soil in a container is poured with warm water;
- with the help of toothpicks dipped in water, verbena seeds are picked up and transferred to the surface of the earth;
- seeds are placed at a distance of up to 2 cm from each other;
- sprinkled with soil mixture up to 2 mm thick;
- the earth is moistened with a sprayer or spray gun;
- to create a greenhouse effect, the container is covered with glass or plastic wrap.
The optimal distance between verbena seeds is 1,5-2 cm
Growing hybrid verbena from seeds at home
Before the appearance of sprouts, the crops are “ventilated” for 15-20 minutes a day. To do this, remove polyethylene or glass. Completely remove condensate from the surface of the covering material. In conditions that are comfortable for the plant (with moderate humidity, air temperature up to + 25 ⁰С), after 3-7 days, the seeds show the first signs of “life”.
When the first shoots appear, the container is moved to a cool place, the covering material is removed. Experienced flower growers advise doing this gradually (for 30 minutes a day) over several days.
In a new place, seedlings are grown at a temperature of up to + 18 ⁰С, additionally, young sprouts are illuminated when the daylight hours are less than 14 hours
Watering is carried out from a spray bottle, avoiding waterlogging of the soil. Higher shoots are watered under the root with a syringe or mini-watering can to avoid water getting on the plants. The frequency of watering is determined individually, depending on the drying of the outer layer.
When the first pair of leaves appears (one month after sowing), vervain seedlings dive into fertilized soil. The potting mix for pickled vervain contains the following ingredients:
- 2 part of garden land;
- 2 parts of peat;
- ½ part of sand;
- 1 large glass of ash per 6 liters of soil;
- 1 tablespoon of complex fertilizer for 6 liters of soil mixture;
- perlite.
It is recommended to choose planting containers for each individual plant with a diameter of more than 5 cm.
1,5-2 hours before transplanting, the prepared containers are filled with drainage, soil and watered thoroughly. Sprouts with two leaves are planted in small holes, after which they compact and water the landing site.
After picking, the plants are moved to a sunny place. In the case of planting ampelous varieties, you should “pinch off” the top to get six full-fledged leaves.
1 week after picking, verbena is fed with mineral nitrogen-containing or complex (nitrogen, potassium, phosphorus) preparations
Planting and caring for hybrid verbena in the open field
Verbena is a unique decorative, lush and long flowering plant, the budding period of which begins after the withering of the primroses and continues until autumn.
Flowers, buds, leaves of hybrid vervain do not wither even under the scorching sun. Culture looks great both in flower beds and beds, and in street planters or flowerpots.
Transplanting seedlings into the ground
Hardened verbena seedlings are transferred to the ground in the last decade of May. The sprouts are hardened to adapt to the sudden drop in air temperature during the May days. Plants prefer loamy, fertile soil with a neutral level of acidity, loose and breathable.
A place for transplanting seedlings of hybrid vervain into the ground should be chosen sunny, open, without shading, since the plant is warm and light-loving.
The soil is dug up in the fall, pre-fertilized with a mixture containing potassium, nitrogen, phosphorus. The planting holes provide good moisture. The distance between them is 30-35 cm, depending on the type and variety of the plant.
Vervain sprouts pre-watered in containers, together with a clod of earth, are transferred to prepared holes in open ground, sprinkled with earth, tamped a little, watered in doses, mulched with peat
Watering and top dressing
Since hybrid vervain is a drought-resistant crop, it is recommended to water once every 1 days. In especially dry weather – 7 times a week.
Beautiful and lush flowering throughout the summer is the result of timely plant nutrition:
- in late spring – organic fertilizers;
- at the beginning of summer (during the formation of buds) – organic mixtures;
- in the middle of summer – phosphorus-potassium mineral fertilizers.
Excessive watering can provoke the development of fungal diseases, and drying out of the soil negatively affects flowering.
Weeding, loosening, mulching
Simultaneously with watering, experienced flower growers advise loosening and weeding the soil from weeds, which will ensure a sufficient supply of fresh air to the root system.
Periodic loosening of the soil is a mandatory aeration measure
Care during the flowering period
Since hybrid verbena has new shoots in place of faded inflorescences, timely pruning should be done. Faded and withered inflorescences are removed, while shortening the stem by ¼ of the total length.
Pruning verbena will stimulate the growth of new shoots and increase the duration of flowering.
Wintering
Perennial erect varieties of verbena, cultivated by man, are distinguished by their unpretentiousness and frost resistance. With the arrival of the first autumn frosts (-2 ⁰С) in the southern regions, the vervain bushes are cut and “insulated” with spruce branches.
In mid-latitudes, plants are dug up and transferred to “wintering” in utility rooms to ensure a period of winter rest and sleep (dark cellar, barn, balcony)
Pests and diseases
Among the diseases that hybrid vervain is most often susceptible to are root rot, gray rot, and powdery mildew.
Verbena leaves and stems turn yellow when infected with root rot.
When affected by gray rot, dark gray spots appear on the leaves, the inflorescences rot and fall off.
Powdery mildew appears as a thick white coating on leaves and inflorescences.
The listed fungal diseases of vervain are the result of a violation of the rules of irrigation. Modern fungicides are used as the main means of treating plants.
In addition to diseases, during the summer season some pests can attack hybrid vervain: thrips, spider mites, and aphids.
Thrips suck out useful juices, gray spots appear at the puncture sites
The spider mite “locates” on the lower part of the leaf plates, the habitats are “marked” with a characteristic cobweb
Aphids – the most dangerous pest that feeds on plant sap, slows down the growth and flowering of verbena
Conclusion
Verbena hybrid is popularly called “pigeon grass”. An attractive shrub plant with over 120 stunning varieties.
