Verbena bonariensis
1013 0
It shouldn't kill it. The plant is perennial and will die back naturally and resprout next year. Trimming to a sensible size usualy keeps it in shape. What does the database say about how to care for this plant?
Posted: Saturday 20th of August 2016 11:04 AM
I have a very tall plant, which is about 7 ft tall, when the blooms die off, can I cut it down to a sensible height or will this kill it?
Mrs Lorna Dyter
1013 1
I have a very tall plant of verbena bonariensis, which is about 7 ft+ tall, when the blooms die off, can I cut it down to a sensible height or will this kill it?
Posted: Friday 19th of August 2016 11:28 AM Last reply: Friday 28th of February 2025 02:53 PM
815 0
Just found this on here as I cut down my Verbena last year and there is no sign of leaves or growth at all yet! Was trying to find some advice. Did yours recover in the end?
Posted: Tuesday 17th of May 2016 12:56 PM
815 0
Hi, Gilly,
Verbena bonariensis is not a heavy feeder so feeding more than once or twice a year is more than adequate. It needs full sun and should be hardy in Sheffield, given it has adequate drainage, particularly in winter. If too wet and not enough sun, it will not do well. Any chance you could post a photo?
Kathy C
Verbena bonariensis is not a heavy feeder so feeding more than once or twice a year is more than adequate. It needs full sun and should be hardy in Sheffield, given it has adequate drainage, particularly in winter. If too wet and not enough sun, it will not do well. Any chance you could post a photo?
Kathy C
Posted: Wednesday 10th of June 2015 06:23 PM
Have I lost my Verbena bonariensis this year?
Gilly Burgess
815 2
Hi - I had a beautiful Verbena bonariensis last year and cut it back quite hard after flowering. We are now in May and I only have a very few new leaves appearing from the old stump despite regular feeding etc. Did I overdo it or is it just being a slowcoach? I live in Sheffield but have a sheltered garden. Please advise? I'm worrying about it!!
Posted: Thursday 28th of May 2015 07:57 AM Last reply: Wednesday 9th of April 2025 05:16 AM
691 0
Hi Sam, this plant is Tender in Frost which means if it is freezing (below 0) it might not survive. Please read more here Hope this helps:)
Posted: Friday 3rd of October 2014 02:03 PM
691 1
Hi..when you say cold area could you explain more..one persons cold area is not anothers? I live in Devizes Wiltshire? thanks
Posted: Friday 3rd of October 2014 11:58 AM Last reply: Friday 28th of February 2025 09:22 PM
Re: Cutting back
Nicola
1689 0
Hi Kevin. Suzette replied in our Facebook page too:)
Posted: Saturday 21st of April 2012 06:24 AM
Re: Cutting back
ELAINE HUTSON
1689 0
If they are still green they have made it through winter and cutting them to the ground is okay. They do seed freely so no harm done, even if you lose the mother plant.
Posted: Monday 16th of April 2012 09:21 PM
Re: Cutting back
Kathy N
1689 0
Hi, Kevin,
In most cases, it is good for the plant to deadhead or cut back spent flower stems after flowering - it makes the plant use energy for stronger roots and stronger vegetation. As far as how low to go and when, you will get conflicting advice. What you do also depends on how cold the winters are where you live. I live in an area with a mild winter. When I am sure it has finished flowering, I cut back the spent flower stems to the clump of basal foliage. Then, in late autumn, I cut back low to the ground. This produces a nice, bushy basal clump in spring. If you live in colder area, I would still cut back spent flower stems after flowering. Then, by mid- to late autumn when it is getting colder, add a dry mulch. Leave the cut stalks to protect the plant from frost damage. Then, in early spring, cut back the tatty old foliage to make way for fresh new growth.
All the best,
Kathy C
In most cases, it is good for the plant to deadhead or cut back spent flower stems after flowering - it makes the plant use energy for stronger roots and stronger vegetation. As far as how low to go and when, you will get conflicting advice. What you do also depends on how cold the winters are where you live. I live in an area with a mild winter. When I am sure it has finished flowering, I cut back the spent flower stems to the clump of basal foliage. Then, in late autumn, I cut back low to the ground. This produces a nice, bushy basal clump in spring. If you live in colder area, I would still cut back spent flower stems after flowering. Then, by mid- to late autumn when it is getting colder, add a dry mulch. Leave the cut stalks to protect the plant from frost damage. Then, in early spring, cut back the tatty old foliage to make way for fresh new growth.
All the best,
Kathy C
Posted: Monday 16th of April 2012 06:42 PM
Cutting back
Shoot User
1689 3
Re: Purple top (Verbena bonariensis) - my instructions state that they
should be 'cut down' once flowering has finished.
Last summer i didn't prune/cut back/dead head at all.
So this spring they looked a bit of a sorry state!
This week at last I 'dead headed' them, removed some dead leaves and cut
back the tall stems but only to remove broken parts of stems or obviously
'dead' parts - I didnt cut down right to the base.
They still look a bit of a mess but there is now new growth appearing both
in form of completely new stems AND new branches from the existing stems
left over from last year.
The question is in an ideal world, going back to last summer when
flowering had finished, should i have cut ALL stems down right to the base
- hence starting anew this spring. Would that achieve better results in
the long term or would that have been over doing it?
should be 'cut down' once flowering has finished.
Last summer i didn't prune/cut back/dead head at all.
So this spring they looked a bit of a sorry state!
This week at last I 'dead headed' them, removed some dead leaves and cut
back the tall stems but only to remove broken parts of stems or obviously
'dead' parts - I didnt cut down right to the base.
They still look a bit of a mess but there is now new growth appearing both
in form of completely new stems AND new branches from the existing stems
left over from last year.
The question is in an ideal world, going back to last summer when
flowering had finished, should i have cut ALL stems down right to the base
- hence starting anew this spring. Would that achieve better results in
the long term or would that have been over doing it?
Posted: Monday 16th of April 2012 06:00 PM Last reply: Friday 28th of February 2025 09:24 PM
Re: Verbena bonariensis
Shoot User
1443 0
I am new to gardening and planted up two verbena Bonariensis this June which have both done beautifully well. I had no idea that they would grow so tall or that the flowers would last through to the very first hard frosts. They have been a total joy to have in the garden.The trouble is I'm not sure now what to do to look after them properly through the winter months. Should I cut them back and if so when and by how much?
Posted: Tuesday 30th of November 2010 09:26 PM
Verbena bonariensis
Georgie
1443 1
This is a must have plant if like me you like a cottage style, wildlife friendly border. Although it can get rather tall - mine was about 2m last year - its slender stems are fairly see through. I grew it with Oxeye Daisies and the border was full of bees, hoverflies and butterflies.
Georgie
Georgie
Posted: Sunday 19th of April 2009 08:39 PM Last reply: Friday 28th of February 2025 04:03 PM
Verbena update
Kathy N
1805 0
Hi, Julia!
Just wondering how your Verbena are fairing. I ended up cutting mine back in early spring and they certainly didn't suffer for it! One is just starting to bloom (on the sunnier side of the garden). Hope yours are doing well!
Kathy C.
Just wondering how your Verbena are fairing. I ended up cutting mine back in early spring and they certainly didn't suffer for it! One is just starting to bloom (on the sunnier side of the garden). Hope yours are doing well!
Kathy C.
Posted: Tuesday 3rd of June 2008 12:45 PM Last reply: Tuesday 3rd of June 2008 12:45 PM
verbena bonariensis
Shoot User
1805 0
Thanks for the advice Kathy, I will have a think about what to do, as usual there is not necessarily a right answer to these things. I'll let you know what I decide and the results in due course!
Julia
Julia
Posted: Monday 28th of January 2008 11:18 PM Last reply: Monday 28th of January 2008 11:18 PM
What to do with V.bonariensis???
Kathy N
1805 0
Hi! I, too, have V. bonariensis growing (with buds!) in the middle of January - strange weather! There are a number of things you can do depending on when you want them to bloom, reseed, etc. Of course, any of the options listed below could be completely irrelevant if the weather turns very cold in Feb and March.
Option #1 - Leave them. V. bonariensis, as a general rule, are short-lived anyway. If it stays warm, they will flower early, produce seed early, and you could have loads of little plants dotted around the garden by late summer/early autumn. If it gets cold, they will die down and probably take a little longer than normal to flower in the growing season.
Option #2 - Cut them back. If you cut them back, and the weather stays warm, they will be a bit bushier and you will delay flowering until closer to the time they normally bloom. If it gets cold, however, you may want to protect the cut shoots with mulch at this could potentially damage the plant.
Either way, you will hopefully get to enjoy your plants at some point during the growing season. I planted mine in October 2006. They flowered, died down, and struggled to grow the following spring (they were in a spot that was a bit too shady). Fortunately, they self-seeded and I had plants popping up all over the garden. If yours flowered this past autumn, you might have a similar situation - lots of new plants even if the original ones don't survive cutting back or cold weather if it comes. Let me know what you decide to do - and if you have any seedlings in spring.
Option #1 - Leave them. V. bonariensis, as a general rule, are short-lived anyway. If it stays warm, they will flower early, produce seed early, and you could have loads of little plants dotted around the garden by late summer/early autumn. If it gets cold, they will die down and probably take a little longer than normal to flower in the growing season.
Option #2 - Cut them back. If you cut them back, and the weather stays warm, they will be a bit bushier and you will delay flowering until closer to the time they normally bloom. If it gets cold, however, you may want to protect the cut shoots with mulch at this could potentially damage the plant.
Either way, you will hopefully get to enjoy your plants at some point during the growing season. I planted mine in October 2006. They flowered, died down, and struggled to grow the following spring (they were in a spot that was a bit too shady). Fortunately, they self-seeded and I had plants popping up all over the garden. If yours flowered this past autumn, you might have a similar situation - lots of new plants even if the original ones don't survive cutting back or cold weather if it comes. Let me know what you decide to do - and if you have any seedlings in spring.
Posted: Monday 28th of January 2008 11:40 AM Last reply: Monday 28th of January 2008 11:40 AM
Should I cut back?
Shoot User
1805 3
I planted these in November, now they are shooting both from the base and from all up the previous growth - hasn't been frosted at all. Should I cut it back down to the ground now (late Jan)?
Thanks, Julia
Thanks, Julia
Posted: Sunday 27th of January 2008 05:10 PM Last reply: Sunday 27th of January 2008 05:10 PM