How adaptable is verbena, really?

Other names for verbena

Purple-topped dragon's-bud grass, wild schizonepeta, dragon's-bud grass, phoenix-neck grass, dragonfly grass, blood-stopping grass, swallowtail grass; Latin scientific name HerbaVerbenaeOfficinalis

Verbena family and genus

Verbenaceae

Verbena distribution area

Southwest, Shanxi, Shaanxi, Gansu, Xinjiang, Jiangsu, Anhui, Zhejiang, Jiangxi, Fujian

Verbena morphological characteristics

Verbena is a perennial herbaceous plant. Because its whip-like sheath is spike-shaped, it is also called verbena. The stem of verbena is square, square in the upper part and nearly round in the lower part, with short stiff hairs on the ridges and nodes. The leaves are simple and opposite, ovate, with deep divisions resembling chicken claws; the segments show irregular pinnate splitting, and both the upper and lower surfaces of the leaves bear stiff hairs, with the hairs on the veins of the lower surface especially dense.

Verbena's flowers are blue-purple spike-shaped inflorescences, generally opening in summer and autumn; the calyx is membranous and tubular, with the tip split into 5 like a chicken claw; the verbena fruit is concealed within the calyx and splits open into 4 small nuts when mature; verbena's flowering period is 7-8 months, and its fruiting period is 10-11 months.

Verbena growth habits

Verbena likes fertilizer and can grow in ordinary soil, but grows robustly in deep, fertile sandy loam; low-lying, waterlogged land is not suitable for planting it. Verbena likes a moist environment but fears waterlogging, so when watering, avoid water accumulating in the pot. Choose loam or sandy loam with a thicker soil layer as the planting site. Sow in late 4 month to early 5 month. Prevent weed infestation and keep the field free of weeds. If large amounts of water accumulate in the field for a long time, root rot can occur; as long as drainage and loosening of the soil are done in time, it can be avoided.

Verbena flower language

Justice, expectation. White verbena symbolizes purity and innocence, and expectation of one's love returning; red verbena symbolizes working together with one heart and a harmonious family in which all undertakings prosper.

Verbena symbolic meaning

Verbena is regarded as a sacred flower in Christianity. In medieval legend it had the power to break curses, and it was often used to decorate altars in religious consciousness. In many literary and artistic works there are descriptions of verbena restraining vampires.

Verbena forecasts the weather

Wild verbena can forecast the weather. Verbena is very sensitive to humidity; when the roots exposed outside the soil become moldy and carry a white color, it indicates rain.