
Highly sought after by bees and butterflies, this wonderfully shrubby and long-flowering verbena is ideal for wildlife-friendly gardens. ‘Santos’ is an improved and denser flowering form of the species (Verbena rigida), and is an invaluable addition to mixed or herbaceous borders, where its clusters of bright purple blooms will add lashings of bold colour over several months from early summer.
How to care for Verbena rigida Santos:
In areas prone to frost apply a deep, dry winter mulch around the crown of the plant. Lift and divide large clumps in spring, replanting divided specimens with lots of well-rotted organic matter.
Sowing instructions:
Early sowings can be started off from February,in seed trays kept under glass before hardening off and planting out. Alternatively, after the worst frosts have passed, sow directly into a sunny, well-prepared seedbed, thinning the seedlings out to 45-60cm as they grow. Pinching out the growing tips will encourage bushier plants to develop.
Flowering period:
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
Eventual height:
0.6m
Eventual spread:
0.45m
Position:
Full sun
Rate of growth:
Average
Soil:
Moderately fertile, moist, well-drained soil
Hardiness:
Borderline hardy (will need protection in winter in colder areas)
-
This perennial dies back to below ground level each year in autumn, then fresh new growth appears again in spring.
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Highly sought after by bees and butterflies, this wonderfully shrubby and long-flowering verbena is ideal for wildlife-friendly gardens. ‘Santos’ is an improved and denser flowering form of the species (Verbena rigida), and is an invaluable addition to mixed or herbaceous borders, where its clusters of bright purple blooms will add lashings of bold colour over several months from early summer.
How to care for Verbena rigida Santos:
In areas prone to frost apply a deep, dry winter mulch around the crown of the plant. Lift and divide large clumps in spring, replanting divided specimens with lots of well-rotted organic matter.
Sowing instructions:
Early sowings can be started off from February,in seed trays kept under glass before hardening off and planting out. Alternatively, after the worst frosts have passed, sow directly into a sunny, well-prepared seedbed, thinning the seedlings out to 45-60cm as they grow. Pinching out the growing tips will encourage bushier plants to develop.
Flowering period:
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
Eventual height:
0.6m
Eventual spread:
0.45m
Position:
Full sun
Rate of growth:
Average
Soil:
Moderately fertile, moist, well-drained soil
Hardiness:
Borderline hardy (will need protection in winter in colder areas)
-
This perennial dies back to below ground level each year in autumn, then fresh new growth appears again in spring.