Verbena Bonariensis

[skybluepink]

I have visions of a mass of verbena in my new border so sowed some seed on a warm window sill ... and waited peppers came up , melons came up , morning glory , black eyed suzy no verbena.
They are on a warm windowsill for 2 weeks now no sign .

Any advice

[PAULW]

If you have any seed left you could try sowing some outside, I know down in tropical Dorset I have had a good crop of seedlings in the spring from self set seed

[deezyb]

I am also growing verbena bonarensis - they take ages to germinate and even then once they do they stay really small for ages. Be patient. I only got 4 plants in the end from my seed last year. This year I have a few more, but have promised them to relatives unfortunately! may manage to save a couple for myself!? Let us know how things go

Dee

[smallblueplanet]

I agree that they appear difficult to germinate from seeds, but as PaulW says when you have them in the garden they then self-seed everywhere!

[vicky]

I've got LOADS of spare plants if you want to send me as SAE!
(pm me first!)
Vicky

[roitelet]

Hello Skybluepink,

Grew some from seed last year and didn't have much problem. Be warned though they get very tall. Mine made 6ft in some places but the bees and butterflies loved them and they flowered all summer.

Just hoping that they have survived the winter.

[Flummery]

2 weeks isn't long in cosmic terms. I'd wait a bit.

[smallblueplanet]

2 weeks isn't long in cosmic terms. I'd wait a bit.

Cool!

[skybluepink]

Hi Vicky thats so kind of you and i would love to take you up on your generous offer. Could i have and address please we can see if the power of the post is faster than geminating verbena !

[wellie]

The bonariensis in our garden self-seed readily, and most survive the winter thankfully - don't you just love 'em popping up through all the other flowers willy nilly?
A couple of years ago, besides the bees & butterflies, we were astounded to see a rather strange 'thing' drinking nectar from them, and it turned out to be a Hummingbird Hawkmoth. Fantastic sight!

Hope they eventually germinate for you skybluepink, then you'll be up to your armpits in them!

[pigletwillie]

We managed to grow a few last year on Wellies recommendation and the planted out ones survived the winter, the ones overwintered in the coldframe were planted out last week, before the threat of all this snow. Hopefully they will self set then we can transplant them around the garden and plots.

[nick the grief]

I planted a couple and regularly dig up 100's of self sown seedlings and the birds eat a few as well! They don't make a solid planting but are very airy with the flowers held about 18" clear of the plants.

[nick the grief]

.....don't you just love 'em popping up through all the other flowers willy nilly? ...

A willy that's Nilly is no use to anyone Wellie

[kentvegplot]

Thanks for the reminder - I knew I had some seeds somewhere, but they weren't in my 'March' set or 'April'. Turns out I put them in 'Early Spring'! The packet says plant from Feb to July so I think I still have time.