Verbena bonariensis - One of the BEST Herbaceous Perennials for Your Garden

[@nickharvey7233]

I fell in love with these plants during a year out in Argentina before university, way back in '95. As soon as they started cropping up in garden centres here, I planted them all over our garden - wonderful plants.

[@EnglishMadeleine]

Having moved house last year to a house with a garden that had very little in it, I’ve had the pleasure of filling it with wildlife friendly plants, including seven Verbena Bonariensis and for me, they’ve acted like the tall grasses that are so popular at the moment. The way they sway in the wind gives movement to the garden and I love them. Keep up the good work, Joel, we know you’re a busy man and will await your videos for when you have the time to put them up for us.

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Wonderful Madeleine, so good to hear that you're immediately making an impact on a new green space and are no doubt being rewarded :) Thank you for your support, I have enough video filmed to do several a week when the nights start drawing in and winter approaches - best wishes, and thank you again - Joel

[@santaclaws50]

It sprung up in a tomato pot from an unknown source...but I'm delighted!!! Skippers and bees galore..I am in Oregon...I hadn't seen it for years!! thanks for a great video!!!

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Fantastic! Yes, skippers and many other butterflies live them! Thanks for commenting 😊👍

[@makulewahine]

My neighbor gave me a bunch of her verbena upstarts a couple of months ago. Every single one that I planted are blooming and growing like mad without much help from me. I love the airy feel it gives to the garden.

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Perfectly described Gordon - they certainly earn their keep, although as you say, they're pretty undemanding :) Hope you have had a good weekend - best wishes, Joel

[@noraalvarado8178]

Oh wow!! I love this plant. I'm in N.Y and bought seed from a grocery store here that carries Bitanical Interest seed. I winter sowed it in milk jugs and planted it in my butterfly garden which I made by removing alot of my grass from my front lawn in the fall. I planted it next to Anise Hyssop and boy did it take off. And all the butterflies, bees and the humming bird hawk moth that I haven't seen in years came. I just love it. I kept watering it well because us like you hardly no rain for months. Now that fall is coming we're starting to get the rain. It's been a rough summer with all kinds of gardens and no rain. Thanks for the great video Joel!!

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Just wonderful to read this Nora - Anise Hyssop is another favourite and recommendation in my book - so glad that your very grateful visitors returned. Gardening with all wildlife in mind can bring so many rewards that the plants end up more than paying for their keep :) Thank you for your support and encouragement, it makes a difference - best wishes to you in NY - Joel

[@TrishRadil]

This is the comment I needed to see! I’m in CT and trying to winter sow this for the first time, but I wasn’t sure if it would work in 6b… I did move them to my garage last night for the -10 temps 😕

[@noraalvarado8178]

@@TrishRadil Here in N.Y zone 6a it was 0 this morning. So glad I didn't have to go to work. Lol I winter sowed more of it a couple of weeks ago along with milkweed, echinacea and other seeds but let it stay out last night underneath the overhang of my house. Today it did get to 20 and we are gonna warm up to the low 50s by the middle of the week. Can't wait for spring!! Stay warm over there!

[@telnoone691]

We have had verbena in our garden for five years now and have enough seedlings to supply our neighbours ever since Great plant 👍

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Wonderful Tel, Thank you :) Have a great weekend - Joel

[@jshepherd37066]

I accidentally bought this last week. Thought it was the traditional verbena that grows low. Looked at the tag while planting it this morning and holy cow couldn’t believe my eyes when it said it grows up to 5 feet tall! Had to find a roomier place to plant it. Super excited though! I love anything that helps pollinators. Thx for the video!

[@jshepherd37066]

It’s only about 6-8 inches tall. Should I expect it to bloom this summer?

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Haha, that did make me laugh! It is good for the front, centre or back of a border, only because it's long stem and quite fine flowers means it doesn't block anything else. It certainly won't disappoint though. Not sure if you have seen yesterday's upload but it's all about my front garden and how it's helping pollinators, I think you might enjoy it :) Thanks for the comment and support, it's appreciated - best wishes, Joel

[@titiaswildlifecottagegarden]

Yay, new video☺️ Glad to see you being back in action on KZbin. This spring I have bought a few verbena in pots from a local garden centre. It is in the front garden, clay-ish soil with compost, supported by a bamboo stick and rope. It has flowered his socks off since it started blooming. I don't know if you read my comment in one of your previous videos or on Instagram, but I have regurly by now been visited by the hummingbird hawk-moth and I have footage of it. I need to work on the video first, blurr out license plates etc, which my current Clipchamp app on windows 11 doesn't have. I spotted the moth today to, they always seem to pop up when it's a sunny and warm day. I have been feeling so lucky to have this visitor in my second gardening year, while others haven't in years.

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

A great success Titia, and you're being rewarded by hummingbird hawkmoths! I empathise re the editing, it seems to take way longer than the actual film on most occasions! But worth it to share with everyone and to show others the rewards of gardening with wildlife in mind - well done :) Best wishes, Joel

[@markhunter2244]

I hadn’t even heard of this plant until I got some last year, now it’s a must have in the garden. As you say it’s flowers seem to last forever and attracts so many different pollinators. Would recommend Verbena Bonariensis for every wildlife garden 🐝

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Thank you Mark, very grateful for this - it seems it is popular worldwide and when so many of our garden and native flowers were struggling through the drought and heat, this little beauty just kept on giving to those insects desperately in need of a food source to keep them going. Best wishes, as always - Joel

[@phebephillips]

I just found your channel, and love it. I planted Verbena Bonariensis for the first time this year. It's fabulous! We are in North East Texas, U.S. We live in an area with heavy deer population. I'm finding this Verbena, Yellow Lantana, English Lavender, and Russian Sage to be the mix that feeds our pollinators, but not the deer.

[@Solitude11-11]

In the process of making a garden, I love this plant, so versatile and pretty, and yes a magnet for insects! I have one plant so far which will hopefully be a parent to many more 😊

[@MarkyBigSmoke]

Couldn’t agree more Joel. They are doing well on my allotment plot on clay. The butterflies love it. I can definitely recommend the lovely on line shop. All the best

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Thank you Mark, I was still daydreaming about your wonderful plot this morning - I can't wait to see it as it seems there is a multitude of life benefiting and doing well :) Best wishes, Joel

[@mbaksrihokyberkah3458]

Bunga bunga yang indah dan cantik warnanya dari Indonesia hadir

[@kevinpowell7948]

Saw my first hummingbird hawkmoth in my garden on the buddleia, absolutely amazing. 🍻

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

They certainly are amazing Kevin, so mesmerising and if you're like me, they make you do a double-take or two when you first see them! So glad you got to see one, I understand it's been a rather record year for sightings and they are known to be over-wintering in the UK now. I've seen most of mine in the garden using the Red Valerian as well as the Verbena Bonariensis. Best wishes - Joel

[@SisterDogmata]

Lucky you!

[@janiedunn637]

Those flowers 🌸 are beautiful 😻. I’ve got thoughts 💭 in my head about my back garden 🪴 for next year. I’ve a side wall but nothing much grows there but clover 🍀, only a small area. They’re is uneven concrete cracked areas where I can’t plant 🌱 anything but it’s looking 👍🏻 now 😊

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Wonderful Janie, the Verbena B. in this film certainly made use of a crack in the pavement :) Hope you've had a good weekend - best wishes, Joel

[@sreykimsear]

I'm growing 2 of these exact verbena and seriously I just planted in my garden. They were in pots for a couple of days. Got it from Home Depot. I knew they were perennials and bees love this plant.

[@craigfarleymusician8481]

Great video again Joel. I planted two Verbenas in my garden a few months ago after I heard you mention how good they were in another video. I can’t believe how well and tall they’ve grown and always covered in bees and butterflies . One of them stands in full sunshine behind the waterfall section of my fish pond , and the other at the front of my flower border , a bit more shaded under my apple tree. Both are doing great and their colour is just beautiful. All of our visitors always comment on them as they are so striking 😊

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Hey Craig! So good to read this and the comments from so many people confirming how good this understated plant is, I am sure that through our drought period, this being in people's gardens has helped many a desperate insect through another day. I really must come to visit your garden when I am in the area - please do keep in touch via email, when the nights draw in I should have more time for KZbin and to keep up with everyone better - best wishes, Joel

[@craigfarleymusician8481]

@@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton I would absolutely love for you to visit and see . You are always welcome whenever you’re done this way. . And also for any of your expert advice to see where I can improve things further . I’m always up for that and learning new things 😊 My father in law will be getting some Verbenas planted in his new garden very soon too as he loves mine. Perfect plant for the drought conditions as you say , plus the benefit of flowering late into the year . All the best as always 😊

[@ChopsyMiche]

I absolutely love this plant, its like a buffet for pollinators:) Plus it looks so stunning and elegant. I've been lucky this year as I've had a hummingbird hawk-moth visiting every day through the summer. so beautiful, stunning and priceless... how can you not love and care about the beauty of nature x Thank you for sharing Joel x

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

I absolutely love that you have this plant and are equally singing it's praises - so many hummingbird hawkmoths reported and they have obviously been so grateful (along with other insects) for this plant being able to thrive even during this awful drought period that we have had. Thanks so much for your encouragement and support, it means a lot - best wishes, Joel

[@SisterDogmata]

Hey Joel, another for the list. Had some years ago in an old garden I'll definitely be getting some more. Have a great week! Best wishes.

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Thank you - we've been working in the background on expanding the offering of native wildflowers to more of the herbaceous perennials that are proven to attract/help wildlife, but I want to find the right wholesalers of course and home-grown :) Glad this has encouraged you to get some - hope you've had a good weekend, off to Derbyshire again for 2 more weeks then I have a little surprise for everyone about where I'm headed next! Best wishes, Joel

[@SisterDogmata]

@@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton We will wait with baited breath!

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

@@SisterDogmata 🤣👍

[@nickiramsay2421]

I love mine, it self seeds so well I get more and more every year.

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Hi Nicki - me too, they're such wonderful plants for anywhere in a border and you're right, once they are established they make quite a few more plants, so kind of end up paying for themselves :) Best wishes - Joel

[@sandraparkin9372]

Another plant with a long flowering season is Marjoram. I had just one Marjoram plant in my old garden that would flower for over three months. It was covered in bees and hoverflies all day long and so presumably has a high and continuous nectar content. A brilliant plant and one I'd recommend. I got Verbena bonariensis plug plants last year and have had success with them having failed with seeds. They flowered last year, but not that well as they'd only had two months of growing time. This year they're coming back really strong and I'm looking forward to seeing them flower.

[@micksmusicchannel]

A beautiful plant Joel and obviously a valuable food source for many pollinators 🙂

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Absolutely Mick, and a vital source of food for so many insects when our other plants were suffering so much during the drought. Such an elegant plant and of course suitable for any position in a border or pot. Hope you're doing well, best wishes - Joel

[@bobmarley6161]

Fantastic thank you I'm going to add this in my garden and a verge I'm creating a wild flower garden in along with oxeye daisy red valerian and red campion.... Thank you for the tip....

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

You're very welcome, as always - a perfect combination you will have there, not just for the wildlife but the red valerian against the purple of this VB will look pretty eye-catching :) Great work, best wishes and thank you again for your support - Joel

[@CheshireCat6639]

Loved this one Joel🎉 I love Buddleia, i have 3, yes the 🦋❤them , managed ok they look fab, folk see them tall straggly with few flowers on waste land hence they are passed by for gardens, well hopefully your vlogs will alter that mind set, keep em coming 🎉🐛🦋🐸🐜🐝🪲🐞🦗🕷🪳🕸🦟🪰🪱🦠

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Thank you :) Yep, we seem to be "against" successful species for some reason or those we feel that we can't control. Even with collared doves etc people actually ask me how they can keep them out of the garden but keep the "prettier" songbirds etc... But I'm glad you have 3 and will confess that, including in pots, I have around 8 in the garden! Hope you're having a good weekend - best wishes, Joel

[@flowerpixel]

Purchased my first verbena a few weeks ago 💜💜💜

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

It won't be your last I bet :) Hopefully this one plant will spread itself around the garden and pay for itself in no time - the butterflies and other insects that it will bring to your garden will be an additional reward. Best wishes - Joel

[@transmogrify2dog]

The buddleia is supposed to be the most irresistible nectar source for butterflies but verbena bonariensis beats it hands down. I did a daz door step challenge kind of thing observing whether the butterflies went to the neighbour's buddleia or my cluster of verbena b., and 9/10 of the butterflies preferred the verbena. Honestly the moment the sun is out this plant is covered in butterflies.

[@double531]

Grew loads of it this year Joel, gave many plants away as well. Inspired by your how to grow video. Great work as always. ATB

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Fantastic to read this! 🤩so generous of you too, so many deserved rewards - thank you, best wishes - Joel

[@kevinking7860]

I grew some from seed and at first when it flowered nothing went near it but later it went crazy even yesterday a hummingbird hawk an Argus and small copper Its Amazing !!!

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Hi Kevin :) I've just made a note of those two butterfly species, how fantastic! Expect more and more plants (and butterflies/moths) next year :) Thanks for letting me know, I appreciate it - best wishes, Joel

[@UkAmphibians]

Love this plant so much joel we keep getting more and more grow in our gardens each year thanks for sharing 🐸💚🐸

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

There's absolutely nothing to dislike about it for sure :) Such a vital pollinator and helps a lot of insects feast until hibernation. Hope you had a good weekend - best wishes

[@NadineTouzet]

Mine is in its second year and it stopped flowering at the height of the summer 😕 and I hope it’s not dead. Last year I broke a stem and simply stuck it into the ground and it took root. I don’t get a lot of butterflies unfortunately but I found all that did visit were on the verbena bonariensis.

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Hi Nadine! So good to hear from you, although I'm sorry about the short-lived Verbena B. Apologies too that I have not been able to keep up with everyone in the last few months, I am still trying to acknowledge everyone's comments and ensure they know I am not ignoring them! That is great that that plant grew from a cutting though, that's a great tip :) Stay patient, and keep gardening in the way you are and I am certain you will be rewarded more and more each year. I still have all those videos from France (and fond memories of meeting you) to edit and upload, I can't wait to share them with everyone. I do hope you and the family are doing well - best wishes, as always - Joel

[@NadineTouzet]

@@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton Hi Joel, it’s hard to catch up when you’re busy, but it’s good to be busy. I was in London last week and saw your book there 😉. The garden is slowly coming back, but what a summer it’s been! Keep up the good work, as always. Take care.

[@453421abcdefg12345]

Verbena bonariensis is the most visited plant in our garden now the Lavender has gone over, I have just been watching 12 Andonis blue , male and female busy feeding on it, and the Burnets are on almost every plant, the great feature of this plant is that the flowers,held high on rigid stems, do not blow over in the wind, most of ours have self seeded in the limestone gravel, but it is really easy to bulk up your plants by cuttings, your extensive clump here is very impressive! Chris B.

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Hey Chris! We really must catch up properly soon, I'm currently up in Derbyshire on a very large project and then an announcement about a more exotic place I will be working in. Thanks for reiterating the benefits and beauty of this wonderful plant and of course 12 Adonis blue... (me, jealous? no!) - I hope you are both keeping well, fond memories of visiting yours and hope to do so again one day soon. Take good care, Joel

[@453421abcdefg12345]

@@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton Take care over there Joel, and do not work too hard, you need a break ! Chris B.

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

@@453421abcdefg12345 I'm about to get one of the best breaks of my life in 3 weeks Chris, can't wait to announce this one - thank you for all your support, I really do appreciate it.

[@PaulOutdoors]

Oh yes Joel, a real powerhouse is Verbena bonariensis. It more than earns it's place in my garden. Earlier I filmed a couple of wonderful Hummingbird Hawk Moths sipping on my Verbena and white buddleia and will upload a short video if the quality is good enough as they move and manoeuvre so quickly 👀. A great watch and listen as always Joel. Paul 👍😊#natureistheantidote

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Brilliant, I can't wait to see this Paul - I wish I had more time to view all these videos, I wish I had more time to spend with you, but I am determined to ensure that your long-standing efforts to preserve and document your local habitat are recognised by more people :) Have a great week, and heartfelt thanks again - Joel

[@PaulOutdoors]

@@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton Thank you very much Joel as always for your very kind words. I really do appreciate them. They mean a lot to me. You are out there making the world a better place for wildlife and people one project at a time, sowing a legacy that will have a profound effect not only for wildlife and nature but on the wildlife enthusiasts of today as can be seen in the phenomenal growth of your KZbin channel and the future generations just like our "hero" has had on us. Now isnt that a wonderful thought. That's more than good enough for me. 🙏😊👍

[@LittleVampette]

One of my absolute favs too

[@stevenvitali7404]

Great video!, They are so easy to grow from seed, I've had 5 Hummingbird Hawkmoths in my garden for the last week, even in the rain, amazing creatures!, they feed from my Buddleia's, Salvia's and verbena bonariensis, I'm in N.Devon

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Wow Steven! That's brilliant, they certainly are being seen in numbers but FIVE, I'm pretty envious :) They're absolutely mesmerising when you see them aren't they. The ones in my garden do use the Verbena B and Buddleja but they seem particularly interested in the Red Valerian. You might know this already, so forgive me if you do, but it has been recorded that the Hummingbird Hawmoths visit he same flowers at the SAME time of day, mine are pretty good at time-keeping - do let me know if that's the case with yours. Thank you for your support, best wishes - Joel

[@stevenvitali7404]

@@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton yes me and my wife both notice that they arrive at a certain time

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

@@stevenvitali7404 Great - happy viewing, it's just so rewarding for the efforts put in - well done to you both :)

[@stevenvitali7404]

@@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton thank you

[@adam2802]

Oh weird, we just saw some of this yesterday and decided to get some cos it was swam,ing with bees, butterflies and even saw a hawkmoth on it

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Great! You'll certainly be rewarded over and over for choosing this excellent plant. So many reports of Hummingbird Hawkmoths using this and also that more and more are over-wintering here. Thanks Adam, best wishes - Joel

[@ruthnewby6863]

Couldn’t agree more with you Joel, I think it is even better than Buddleia (at least it seems to attract more butterflies in my garden). Also popular with hoverflies, you had an image of Volucella zonaria in there at the beginning I noticed. Good for aspiring wildlife photographers too as you can photograph inspects at eye level without having to crouch down!

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Hi Ruth :) Thank you. You're right, a perfect pedestal to photograph so many grateful insects, these are Nikki's photos from the garden and she has a rather small obsession with insect faces, using macro a lot. I've used a lot of her images in the videos and a high number of the images in the Wild Your Garden book are hers, while I'm filming she is usually somewhere getting up close. Thank you for the ID on the hover-fly, I really do need to learn more about them :) Hope you are well, best wishes - Joel

[@itsmewende]

I’m with you, it’s one of my favorites too. It just adds a little somethin’ somethin’ to every garden, you know over here they’re all separate. The entire property isn’t called the garden.

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Hey Wende :) I love the way you describe things. So many people love this plant and it's obvious why. I hope you are doing well, best wishes - Joel

[@itsmewende]

@@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton Hi, back atcha. I'm good, looking forward to Autumn. I'll miss the gardening, but not so much the yard work. You've inspired me to get my pond cleaned up, I'm going to start that project soon.

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

@@itsmewende I'm off to sunnier climes for 3 weeks, not sure if you've seen the announcement but I am so excited and so looking forward to the break, even if there's work involved, it will be for the good of nature :) Best wishes, and so glad re the pond clean-up, good luck! Joel

[@flowerfairy1950]

So easy to propagate too (and I am far from expert). Love it! 🧡

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

It's just so good all round - glad you have this, so many rewards with this plant. Best wishes, Joel

[@emkn1479]

Same here in the US. Verbena b. attracts as many butterflies as tithonia, and their contrasting colors are great together. I’ve even had it survive a zone 6 winter, which is very welcome. It does tend to get a little floppy though, I wonder if I were to pinch it back when young or that might give it better structure?

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Hi there - so glad the channel is reaching the USA :) Wonderful to hear about your experience, particularly the surviving over winter. They can get a little top-heavy and if I find them like this I use old twigs placed into the ground to give support. But if cut back in Autumn not only does this deprive birds of the seeds over winter, but it can also cause dieback, so it's best left for Spring - you will notice new growth at the base of the plant - only needing 2 inches (5cm) of the stems to remain. The plant will grow back quickly at this point if you cut it back close to the ground. If you see any new shoots coming out of the old stems near the ground, cut just above these of course. I hope this is helpful - best wishes, Joel

[@beckyscheller9358]

HAve not tried these before but have several on order.

[@robertsmithshair4199]

Just popped out and there was a hummingbird hawk moth visiting one of the clumps in my garden. They seem to favour Verbena B in my garden.

[@robertsmithshair4199]

In fact the first time I ever saw one in this country - about 20 years ago - it was visiting Verbena B

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Yay! SO many reports of an increase in hummingbird hawkmoth numbers and their love of Verbena but it seems that you witnessed this a fair few years ago. Apparently they are finding it easier and easier to over-winter here. I remember reading on the BBC about a record swarm of them arriving at the White Cliffs of Dover from France during the D-Day landings. What a sight that must have been. Hope you're doing well - best wishes, Joel

[@robertsmithshair4199]

@@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton yeah I’m on the Kent Coast so not to far a journey from Europe here. I’ve seen one nearly everyday in my garden last few months. Interesting to know they may be overwintering permanently now. Have started to add bedstraws in the garden in the hope I’ll see some caterpillars next year 🤞

[@williammallender8391]

Oh for a border - thanks

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

You're welcome William :) They do very well in pots/containers too and don't crowd out other plants - best wishes, Joel

[@theurbanghost]

Great video Joel, many thanks. How do we know if a flower is native or not?

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Hi there, thank you :) This is a brilliant question and one that I have on my video "to do" list! It's quite complex as there are various categories - as briefly as I can here: 1: Native = Botanists consider this to be any plant that has been present in the UK since the end of the last glacial period (without human intervention), and any that have persisted since the last ice age. 2: Alien = any plants that have been introduced either accidentally or intentionally by humans 3: Neophytes = these are basically any plants recorded as being intentionally introduced after 1550, ie the discovery of the New World. When buying wildflower seed mixes for example I always advise people to check that they contain only native species as many general mixes contain flowers from Europe and wider. However, as per this video, if there are flowers/plants introduced to the UK that prove to be beneficial for pollinating insects I will recommend them - I take into account of course that these are not considered invasive by DeFRA. Re checking to see if a plant is native I would really recommend looking at this website: plantatlas.brc.ac.uk/ Hope this helps - in a round about way! I will try to finish the video explaining all this as soon as I can and upload as I think it is a question a lot of people have. Thanks for raising it - best wishes, Joel

[@theurbanghost]

@@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton Thank you very much Joel, very interesting!! 👍

[@BarriosGroupie]

Does Verbena bonariensis grow well in long grass? A few years ago I grew my backyard's grass long and it became a little untidy towards the end of August in flopping upon itself and smothering parts. This year I tried again, mowing narrow access strips spaced around 6 feet from one another and it's worked out very well: gives it a formal 'grass bed' look, and I can ruffle it up a bit in parts where it's flopping untidily upon itself. The long grass seed heads looked great in July and August; and I'll wait until late October before giving it a yearly mow. But I want to add a plant(s) that adds to the interest, such as Daucus carota aka wild carrot since this is local to my area. Verbena bonariensis looks ideal if it benefits the native wild-life here in the UK and can compete with the long grass; do you have any other possible suggestions?

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Hey there :) So sorry for the delay, just trying to catch up with everyone when I get a 5 min break. So glad it has worked out well with the longer grasses, but what I would recommend to keep them in check if planting perennials amongst them would be to sow some Yellow Rattle seed this autumn up until Christmas. I mention in the video about a client that grows Verbena B in their meadow and it is very successful, but he does keep the grasses in check. I wouldn't recommend throwing seeds down or indeed planting plug-plants in a long grass area as the voracity of the grasses will choke out any plugs and of course seeds won't really reach the soil or have the light to germinate. We sell the Yellow Rattle seed on the website and there are many other 9cm native flowers, like Wild Carrot and more that I would recommend for planting in a longer lawn area/meadow. Check www.wildyourgarden.com of course and please do drop us a line if you need help or advice for which plants I would recommend - drop me a line at [e-mail] and I will happily help :) I hope this is helpful though in the meantime - best wishes, Joel

[@rosethorne9076]

Hi Joel. You've sold it to me. I've got clay soil, so will it be ok in a pot?

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Hi Rose - I hope to be able to sell it to you in the near future ;) It will work in a clay soil border too, but do add some "sharp sand" to aid drainage - they will also do fine in pots and create great structure and not crowd out other plants. Hope this helps, best wishes - Joel

[@crandall6641]

Love mine but they dont stay upright, they fall forwards right down to 90 degrees. Any ideas please?

[@SHFT101]

I really really like Verbena but oh my it self seeds like mad, I had it in the front garden and It spread 4 gardens further 😅

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Lucky neighbours! 😄 it is such a great source of sustenance for so many insects and the more birds we encourage into our gardens, the more seeds will be eaten before they get a chance to germinate in unwanted areas. Hope you've had a good weekend, best wishes - Joel

[@cyhomer]

I am in Michigan in the US…I love this plant, which is an annual here. I am wondering if anyone has trouble with the lower leaves browning as the plant ages… TY

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Hi there Cathy, sorry for the delay, just catching up with everyone. I have seen this a fair bit as the plants become more mature. Don't forget to not cut them back in Autumn, as you would do with other perennials, this can cause the majority of die-back and of course birds miss out on the wonderful seeds :) I hope you have had a good weekend - Joel

[@joansmith3492]

it grows in my Texas zone 8 garden easily.

[@alwynhackney9365]

Hi Joel,do you cut the verbena bonerencis down to ground level at the end of the season?

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Hi Alwyn - they are able to be cut down, but personally and what I would recommend, is that they are not cut until end of March, early April to enable the birds to eat the seeds. When cutting down I prune mine to 2-3 leafing buds above ground level. I hope this is helpful :) Best wishes, Joel

[@hattiedraper1061]

Alwyn, leave the spent flower heads if you can. It’s wonderful to watch the goldfinches in mid winter taking the seeds from them. In early spring you can cut them down ready for new growth.

[@vgil1278]

It's been many years since I've seen and enjoyed a Hummingbird moth. I really miss them. I have a Verbena bonariensis and have never seen a butterfly of any kind on it. I feel like nature is having a hard time of it here. I see an occasional Cabbage White butterfly. That's it.😒 My Verbena lived over the winter here in zone 5 if anyone wondered.

[@annalie997]

are these annuals in the growing zone 5

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Hi Annalie - This plant is perennial in zones 7 to11 and is grown as an annual in cooler climates, such as zone 5 - I hope this is helpful. I am coming to the USA next year, all being well - I appreciate that I have a lot of subscribers from the USA, various zones (!) - but I will be sure to consider my American community in future videos. I hope this helps, best wishes and have a great weekend - Joel

[@bobmarley6161]

I need to get some seeds for this beauty....

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

If you can't get hold of them, these plants will self-seed as well as produce more for you to germinate and care for to ensure more plants, but I think they're pretty readily available :) Happy growing! The only tip I would give, apart from what I've said in the video is not to cut them down in Autumn, not only because it deprives the birds of seeds but they can suffer die-back if they are cut then, it's always best in Spring - Best wishes - Joel

[@bobmarley6161]

@@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton thank you I have seen this growing wild also in a little local park... I'll have a go at getting some seeds... When is the best time to get the seed... Also can I scatter it in the spring pot should I scatter or I'm the autumn.... Thank you for your help... Always appreciated.... I've been so lucky to see the hummingbird bird hawk moths many times this summer even two together once.... Going crazy for the red valerian which I'm hoping will spread even more come next summer...

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

@@bobmarley6161 Hey - you're very welcome. For best results I'd say they should have stopped flowering by November time, take a few seeds and keep them somewhere cold over winter and then plant them in shallow soil/seed tray around April/May time - I have done a video on this, and actually Verbana here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/iWnRh2mXmKaVY6c Hope this helps - the hummingbird hawkmoths I have always head for the red Valerian - I've also heard (and witnessed) that they come to the same flowers at the same time of day, let me know if they do for you too :)

[@bobmarley6161]

@@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton thank you for the valuable information... I'll keep looking for the seeds to see when they are ready.... I've also now got a patch in a allotment that'll give me more room to plant more wildflower seeds... I've bought some from amazon... But I still like collecting seeds that I see or and about... Recently found a good mixture of colours of foxgloves seeds...

[@ev1677]

Planted mine this year but have never seen a single insect feeding on them all summer which I find odd. They must be stressed and not producing nectar

[@trineley6777]

Just remember that it is only winter hardy in mild winters. Not really a perennial in our climate (I live in Denmark). At least that´s what it says everywhere they are sold here in Denmark.

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Hi Trine, sorry for the delay - thank you for this, some are lost in the UK over severe winters, but a lot of this can be down to people cutting them back in Autumn, when they can suffer die-back due to this. But I appreciate the Denmark winters may be more severe - thank you for your advice here, it's appreciated - best wishes, Joel

[@trineley6777]

@@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton Thank you for your response. I think our winters are fairly the same. Maybe I will try planting it in a sheltered space. Mine are in containers and my plan was to overwinter them at the back of the garage. Sorry for any misspellings🙈 And thank you again, for your response. Best wishes, Trine

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

@@trineley6777 Hi Trine - no misspellings! 🙂A sheltered place should be fine, but remember not to cut them down, however tempting it may be, in Autumn - best wait until the Spring - hope you have had a good weekend, best wishes - Joel

[@trineley6777]

@@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton I'll try🙂 Thank you 😄

[@lynmccullough4860]

Love this plant - voracious possums here in Australia leave it alone!

[@arnorrian1]

Please keep in mind that the species name should be written in lower caps, so Verbena bonarensis. When written in upper case it means a commercial cultivar name.

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Yes - in fact I have been just editing and finishing another video on a meadow, listing each plant as I speak about it, and have remembered this! I'll edit this video title to suit, it was rather a rushed upload and remiss of me and hopefully hasn't made a difference to anyone else. Thank you

[@arnorrian1]

@@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton It's not a big deal, but it removes confusion. Love the channel, BTW.

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

@@arnorrian1 I'm grateful that you pointed it out, it's not that I should know better, it's that I should slow down and double-check before posting 😅 Thank you again, I appreciate it - best wishes, Joel

[@akrossmann1631]

@@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton What a dear you are in your response to the name suggestion!

[@finlaymorgan1405]

I’m pretty sure there are multiple species of gorses, all flowering at different times

[@Tofog22000]

Great plant indeed, I have deer in my area, and they avoid it, nice added benefit.

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Like the deer, I'd love to hang around in your garden, without doing as much damage of course ;) I've seen your garden remotely, but am so keen to see it in real-life. Maybe next year at some point. Hope you've had a good weekend - best wishes, Joel

[@lynnrushton7458]

Had some of these, but they just disappeared ...no idea what happened 😢🤷🏻‍♀️

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Hi Lynn, I am not assuming where you had these planted but usually it will be excess water or shade. Also, if they are cut back in Autumn they do suffer die-back, they're best cut back in late Spring - again that's only an assumption that you've cut them in Autumn but they are a few of the reasons. Plant some more next year and let me know! Best wishes, as always - Joel

[@lynnrushton7458]

@@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton ahh, probably too much shade 🤔 thanks Joel . To be honest, when I planted them I had no idea what they were! 🙈 I just chucked them in the barest patch of soil & watched to see what they turned into 😂

[@FLlife]

Why did I think this was an annual! Maybe for me it is… I’m Florida 9b

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Hello there :) Yes, it is a perennial and I understand only a perennial, native to South America and tolerates heat and dry conditions - but we can lose it in severe winters here in the UK. I'm pretty sure it has a high chance of surviving in beautiful Florida though :) Best wishes - Joel

[@FLlife]

@@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton I’ve grown mine for the winter and spring. By the time we get to summer, it’s too hot and wet. Being that I thought it was an annual, I’ve always pulled mine up, roots and all! This year I’ll cut it off and see if I can get it to come back! Thanks!

[@michaelo6124]

Apparently this verbena is easy to propagate by cuttings. There are youtube videos on this.

[@Flumstead]

Badger me bad boy!

[@lindaellis9349]

So.. what's this crap about the verbena and the pretty Erigeron being banned as in Australia? The world is totally mad...I love both of these plants, all over my garden and the bees and butterflies agree...

[@KishorTwist]

Nah, not North American native personally despite its pollinating features and very long flowering period!