Verbena rigida

The Rigid Verbena or Verbena rigida is a bushy perennial plant that bears small clusters of purplish-violet flowers on its ramified stems. Cousin of the Buenos Aires Verbena, it has a denser and more reduced habit. Its very long flowering will delight you throughout the summer.

Originating from South America and belonging to the Verbenaceae family, the Rigid Verbena, sometimes called Stiff Verbena, has rapid growth. It has a bushy habit and reaches 60cm (24in) in height. Its purplish-violet flowers are arranged in flat corymbs and are borne on square, rigid, and ramified stems. Its foliage consists of narrow, rough, and dentate leaves.

It thrives in sunny, well-drained soil, even rocky soil. Moderately hardy (up to -10°C (14°F)), its lifespan is rather short. If the conditions are favourable, this weakness will be largely compensated by its ability to reproduce itself by self-seeding wherever it pleases, without becoming invasive. It is a nectar-bearing plant that will delight butterflies.

Still relatively unknown, it is for its ease of cultivation and ornamental interest that you will adopt it. It will work wonders in a dry garden where you can plant it alongside grasses or mass-planted with California Poppy, Crocosmia, or even with Golden Agastache for an equally captivating and modern effect.

It can also be grown in pots.