Verbena is a decorative culture, appreciated by gardeners for its rich color scheme and variety of species. The main favorite is ampelous verbena - a bright unpretentious variety. This grass can be found not only in the gardens of beginner growers, but also in famous parks decorated by landscape designers.
History of verbena
The name of verbena of Roman origin, known from the XVIII century. It can be found in ancient books with a description of healing properties. In different countries there are stories in which the culture is called the tears of Isis, the vein of Venus or holy grass. According to Christian legend, verbena was first discovered on Mount Calvary, where Jesus Christ was crucified. She was covered in wounds to stop the bleeding.
With proper care, you can get bloom all season
There are more than 250 species of this representative flora. The bulk of the decorative varieties grows in the USA, on the continent from Chile to Canada. Medicinal herbs grow in Europe and the Far East.
Specifications:
- bush up to 40 cm high;
- buds of white, pink, blue flowers;
- corrugation leaves.
How to use grass:
- for decorative purposes in floriculture: to create vivid monocompositions, alpine hills and borders;
- to stimulate appetite and stimulate vomiting reflexes in medicine;
- roots are used when pickling cucumbers to give them a spicy aroma.
Verbena is used in aromatherapy to relieve fatigue and improve mood.
Perennial or annual?
The planting method depends on a number of features of this shrub, which are important to know before arranging a personal plot or garden. The rules of care differ, depending on whether you need to sow new seedlings every year. Timely care will ensure lush and long flowering.
Verbena is a perennial representative of the flora, which easily tolerates heat and short drought. However, the shrub is not frost-resistant, therefore, in Russia it is considered annual. It rarely turns out in the fall to keep it until spring. This species is grown in planters and pots, on balconies and window sills. Ampoule Verbena requires favorable conditions to survive Russian winters. Usually gardeners acquire seedlings at the beginning of the summer season. Moreover, breeders every year introduce new flower hybrids that are more adapted to Russian latitudes.
For your information! The one-year-old culture does not take root in heavy soil, and if the sun does not reach, the flowers will grow small and nondescript.
Before frost, they dig a bush with a lump of earth and transfer it to a room with an air temperature of no higher than 10 ° C. This is a thermophilic culture that needs light. Landing is recommended in an open area with free access to sunlight. In the shade, the shoots will stretch up, and flowering will stop. In conditions of high humidity, there is a likelihood of developing diseases that are dangerous for verbena.
Verbena vegetal ampelous propagated by cuttings and shoots
Varieties of Verbena ampelous
In the culture, only hybrid species are common, obtained from crossing the best options. Varieties with bright buds of red, blue and purple shades are especially popular.
- Tiara Red Imp. The variety is unpretentious in care, is distinguished by lush and long flowering. The main advantage is resistance to drought and frost up to −3 ° C;
- Observation Cascade. Creeping variety of seed propagation up to 20 cm high. Suitable for planting in cascades in pots or planters with a diameter of 12 cm. Branches, does not require pinching. The plant has large inflorescences. The variety is resistant to powdery mildew;
- Variety of verbena ampelous Imagination is an unpretentious cold-resistant variety. Suitable for both open ground and pots and hanging baskets. It has spreading shoots and plentiful flowering in the season from June to the first frosts. Height is up to 30 cm;
- Impres Peach. The variety is valued for its range of cream flowers and long flowering. Shoots reach 50 cm in length;
- Estrella Voodoo Star. A distinctive feature of this species are variegated large flowers. Especially popular is a variety of lilac shades with white spots. It does not require frequent irrigation with water;
- Amethyst is a compact culture up to 30 cm high. The entire summer season blooms: from June to September. Characteristic hue: blue petals with a white spot in the middle of the bud;
- Lanai Candy Kaye. A new hybrid with large bright buds with white spots. Shoots up to 45 cm long. Flowering from spring to September.
Important! The flower should not be abundantly watered with water for vegetation.
Variety Estrella Voodoo Star blooms until late fall
Verbena in landscape design
Well-groomed representatives of the flora adorn parks, plots or flower beds. Another of their functions is the division of space into zones. Verbena is most often used to create flower arrangements and monoclops. The unique color and shape of the leaves allows it to contrast with other herbs. This is a bright accent on the site near the house.
Chameleons are popular with designers, which begin to bloom three months after being placed in the ground. If plants are planted at different times, bright buds will adorn flower beds for a longer period. You can create panels of verbena or complement the composition with other options.
Undersized varieties of verbena are used to create green borders. High grades are suitable for ennobling the middle of the flowerbed. A classic decorative decoration of a personal plot is a tandem with wanderings and camellias. Ideal "neighbors" are marigolds, daisies, delphinium, nyvyanik and rudbeckia. With a mass planting of plants, you can achieve a bright colorful effect.
Note! Verbena harmoniously combines with bush and climbing roses.
The cultivation of ampel verbena hybrids first began in the XIX century. Since then, it has been one of the most popular flowers among gardeners. For cultivation using new seedlings every year. This option is suitable for those who are looking for decoration of a flower bed, window sill or porch. At the same time, the plant is unpretentious, resistant to heat and drought. Distinctive features are a wide range of colors and a variety of species.
