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Verbena rigida
species (slender vervain)
At‑a‑glance
- Group/Class: species (slender vervain)
- Height × spread: 12-24 in × 12-18 in (30-60 cm × 30-45 cm)
- Bloom window: summer to fall
- Color & flower form: bright purple to magenta clusters on stiff spikes
- Fragrance: 1 trace
- USDA hardiness: zones 7-10; perennial in warm climates, annual elsewhere
- Breeder / Year / Origin: unknown / n/a / native to South America
- Pet safety: unknown / varies by climate
How it differs
- Lower, clumping groundcover compared with trailing bedding verbena.
- Spreads by rhizomes rather than long, sprawling stems.
- Flowers peak in mid to late summer instead of spring.
- Leaves are rough; stems stand stiff and upright.
Strengths
- Handles heat and drought once established.
- Long summer-into-fall bloom.
- Good groundcover effect without excessive height.
- Attractive to pollinators; often deer-resistant.
Care in one minute
Provide full sun and well-drained sandy or loamy soil.
Water to establish; sparing water later except in prolonged drought.
Feed lightly in spring; excessive fertilizer reduces flowering.
Deadhead to keep plants in flower and tidy.
Mulch crowns in zone 7; avoid soggy sites in winter.
Watch‑outs
- Needs excellent drainage; declines in wet winter soils.
- Can spread into colonies in ideal conditions.
- Short-lived in cold, wet climates.
Best uses (tags)
Provenance note
Native to South America and often listed as *Glandularia rigida* in modern references. It has naturalized in parts of the southeastern United States.
References
- NC State Extension Plant Toolbox – Verbena rigida
- Royal Horticultural Society – Verbena rigida
- World Flora Online – Verbena rigida Spreng.
