Forgotten verbena: growing and caring for a plant

Among the many diverse ornamental plants there are flowers that are unknown to a wide range of gardeners or undeservedly forgotten. Such a plant is verbena, the cultivation of which began in ancient times. People have long been aware of the medicinal properties of plants, but today it is known to few (Verbena is mentioned in the series "The Vampire Diaries" as a means of fighting against ghouls). Gardeners in the 19th century brought several types of flowers from the subtropics of America.

Today, hybrid verbena acquires wide popularity , growing of which becomes a favorite occupation of many florists. The culture is obtained as a result of a long and complex hybridization. The plant attracts the attention of a juicy bright coloration of flowers, which ranges from red to blue and violet. There are other colors and shades, there is only yellow. You can find two-colored species with white eyes. In some plants, the flowers are grouped into a shield, in which up to 50 units can be found.
During the work with the plant, breeders created different varieties, differing in height, the structure of the bush and the size of the inflorescences. For many, the question of how to grow a verbena with a height of half a meter, with a spreading or compact crown, is no longer relevant.

There are also varieties of Canadian and hard verbena. These flowers are actively used in the design of flowers, beds, they perfectly decorate the balconies. The Canadian verbena has light crimson buds, while the hard vertebrae have delicate purple-pink buds. For the compilation of bouquets, Buenos Aires verbena is perfect, the cultivation of which allows you to obtain plants with a height of more than one meter with the original bluish-violet (amethyst) color of the flowers.
All species of verbena are perennials, although they are grown as annuals, because they love heat very much.

Reproduction is carried out by seeds or cuttings. To make a beautiful healthy verbena, growing seedlings begin to produce in late February - the first days of March. For this, the seeds are planted in a pre-prepared substrate for annual plants. Shoots appear slowly and unfriendly, for this they need from 10 to 12 days. To accelerate germination, the seeds are heated under a lamp or in the sun at a temperature of 30 degrees. Boxes with seedlings should be located in a room in which it will not be colder +23 degrees. Since the seedling does not like excess moisture, it is better to sprinkle it a little.

At the next stage, the seedlings are dived into separate tanks. After they get accustomed, they need to be pinched at a height of about 7 cm, this will increase the bushy verbena. When planting seedlings observe an interval of not less than 20 centimeters between rows and plants. You can also propagate the plant in a vegetative way - cuttings.

In June, along with many other plants, verbena also blooms. Cultivation of culture in this period should take into account all rules of agricultural technology, and then flowering will continue throughout the summer and autumn. Best verbena blossoms in hot dry weather, although it successfully tolerates a cooling to 2-3 degrees.
When growing a plant, do not make a large amount of organic matter, especially manure. This causes a proliferation of shoots to the detriment of flowering.

The best places for planting are the flower gardens near the house, where the sun is constantly present. Not bad is the development of verbena, the cultivation of which is produced on the balcony from the south and south-east side. In order to achieve the best harmony of colors, blue and blue varieties of verbena can be combined with orange or yellow bushes of marigold, marigold, cynium or dimorphotek, and red ones with white petunias or lion's pharynx.
From verbena beautiful bouquets are obtained, which stand for a long time in the water. They will not only decorate the house, but will also become a wonderful gift.