This plant is supposed to be hardy here, but it hasn't survived winter in the ground in my past tries (twice). I planted it again this year (slow learner) and it was beautiful, blooming all summer. Maybe it will do better planted in this raised area, have better drainage.


As it spreads out to cover the ground, some tiny roots form at the nodes. I took one cutting with two tiny half-inch long roots, potted it in potting mix, and have it growing under lights in the house. It's doing great, and putting out new growth.

Karen

It does wonderful down here. Blooms from about February or March to first hard frost.

I have it in red, yellow, purple, pinkish/lavender.

Very hardy in this zone 7.

Most aren't hardy up here, Vic, but Homestead Purple is supposed to be. I suspect part of the problem in overwintering isn't just the subzero temps. I'd guess it's partly the winter wet in our clay soil, too. I was hoping it might do better in that raised area this winter. But I'll have my indoor one for insurance (if I don't kill it with neglect).

Karen

That cutting that I brought into the house in fall took off, did well, then I killed it by letting it dry out.

The good news is that my plants survived in the ground. I suspect that being in that raised area helped a lot in this very wet year. It's starting to put out new growth at the peripheral nodes that rooted. I'll wait for the weather to be consistently warm and (hopefully) the soil to dry a little, then I'm going to try to sever some of those peripheral rooted parts and try transplanting elsewhere.

It's raining again, and my clay soil will be mud.

Karen

wow that's cool.. never would have thought they would live outside

I don't think most verbenas are hardy this far north, Allison, but Homestead Purple (canadensis) is supposed to be
http://www.santarosagardens.co...

It really makes a beautiful groundcover, covered in electric purple flowers all summer.

Karen

too bad I would have buried the ones I had in a container on the deck

They also do well in hot areas - "Arizona on my miiinnnnddd..." and I like the dark purple better than the lilac of the purple lantana that is so ubiquitous down there. Wonder how much water they actually need...

My verbena got a lot of water. We had record rainfall last year - 73". But I don't think they need much generally.

Karen

Well, we shall see....

Darn. I checked the url you posted and they are only good to zone 6. I can juuuusssttt stretch to a zone 5, depending.

That verbena is starting to flower!

It still needs a lot of clean-up, cutting out dead stems. I'm waiting for some of the peripheral nodes to grow a little, make more foliage, then I'll try to transplant them.

Karen

how great!!!

Karen, you said you killed the rooted plant by neglect. Where do you have your light system set up? Maybe basement? Is it heated down there? I would love to start a system but no room inside and garage in unheated.. just as cold there as outside in the wintertime.

No, mine are in my dining room.


When I lose plants under lights, it's usually from neglect, thirst. I tried to murder a begonia a few days ago... I found it like a crispy critter.

Karen

me too.. seems I go through spurts of being good.. and being forgetful

How many days does it generally take to root verbena in water at this time of year? It is in a warm room in very bright, indirect light from the window - Jacksonville, Florida.

Thanks!
Carol

I've never tried rooting one in water. When I do cuttings of anything, I generally stick them in a pot with potting soil.

Karen

same here.. sorry

It has always been my practice to root all cuttings in trays, too, to save the inevitable transfer process to soil. That was, until I read how easily they root in water. So I'm trying it for the first time. (I also have some I've started in trays - old habits die hard!) So I'll let you know how it goes. These are Verbena Aztec Rose.

Carol