I'm a bit embarrassed about my ignorance regarding the Verbena Bonariensis. I've been thinking all along that it was a perennial here in my zone 5 garden. After posting my picture "gallery" on the Verbena and reading Jodi's comment, I looked it up and saw, that it indeed, is only hardy in zones 7-10.
I never even suspected that it might be an annual, especially since I purchased the two starter plants as perennials from a local perennial nursery in the fall of 2002. They were closing up shop for the season and several of us ladies in the new neighborhood went together and filled our cars full of clearance perennials, (no annuals were even supposed to be sold there).
The verbena has come back in the exact same spot every year since. So, this comes as quite a surprise to me. I'd really like for us to keep this little secret between us, please don't tell my wonderful Verbena Bonariensis that it's only an annual. It might decide not to come back.
That is ok Robin. This is one good thing about blogs you can learn so much from others.
ReplyDeleteYou are lucky your VB reseeds every year. I started here one time but it didn't come back. I probably pulled the seedlings. Seeing yours makes me want to try it again.
Oh ho! Now I'm even MORE envious, because it hasn't come back for me. But I have been known to pull up seedlings, not recognizing them...or to dig up a 'bare' spot to stick in a new plant, and probably disrupt the just-germinating seeds. I AM going to get this plant established, though, perhaps by interspersing it among nigella and poppies. That's my story....
ReplyDeleteI wintersowed some this year. I'd never even heard of it until last summer! So don't feel bad!
ReplyDeleteI didn't know about it until last year, when I saw it popping up in garden blogs. I think I need to give it a try.
ReplyDeleteThey are great plants to have in your garden, the butterflies adore them. I first bought two but when spring came the next year there was only one left. Then I got a few seedlings from a garden friend and they have survived 2 winters already. Right now I'm finding seedlings all over the place, which is great. This verbena is not hardy everywhere but it seems to be doing fine in your garden Robin and in mine too I'm happy to say. ;-)
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