Verbena hybruda Imagination seeds

The evocatively named Verbena 'Imagination' invites creativity in both garden beds and containers. This floriferous and vigorous, highly carpeting annual plant, as floriferous as it is vigorous, covers the ground with a profusion of small deep violet flowers that bloom relentlessly from late spring until the first frosts. Awarded a Fleuroselect Gold Medal, this variety works well in borders, hanging baskets, or on a sunny balcony.

Verbena speciosa 'Imagination' belongs to the Verbenaceae family. Commonly known as annual verbena or carpet verbena, this plant is the result of cross-breeding between two species of the Verbena genus. This cultivar was selected in 1993 by Benary, a renowned seed company, and quickly gained fame due to its horticultural performance, crowned with a Fleuroselect Gold Medal. In the wild, species of the Verbena genus are mainly native to South and North America, often found in open prairies, on slopes, or in sunny locations.

Verbena 'Imagination' is theoretically a perennial plant (USDA zones 9 to 11), but it is grown as an annual in our climates due to its sensitivity to frost. This cultivar stands out for its exceptional flowering, vigour, and intense colour. The plant develops a spreading and trailing habit, with finely cut medium to dark green foliage, forming a dense vegetative carpet. The leaves are semi-evergreen in mild climates but deciduous once temperatures drop below zero. Growth is very rapid, allowing the plant to effectively colonise borders, pots, and hanging baskets, spreading via creeping stems. In the ground, it reaches 30 to 45 cm in height with a 60 to 90 cm spread, while in pots, it remains around 20 to 30 cm tall and 30 to 45 cm wide. The abundant flowering begins in May-June and continues uninterrupted until the first frosts. The flowers are grouped in dense umbels that can reach 5 cm in diameter, with each small tubular flower measuring 1 cm. They are a very bright deep violet colour and attract many pollinators, especially butterflies.

Popular for their generous flowering and vibrant hues, Garden Verbenas, also called Verbena hortensis, are easy-to-grow plants. They are versatile and can be placed in borders, pots, and hanging baskets. They pair easily with Diascia, Nemesia, and Calibrachoa or mini petunias. Garden Verbena thrives in the sun, in rich, well-drained soil. In containers, be careful not to apply too much nitrogen fertiliser, which would promote foliage growth at the expense of flowers.