Purpletop vervain

Purpletop vervain - Verbena bonariensis L.
A strikingly unusual "see-through" plant that produces loose sprays of colour.
Hardy Herbaceous Perennial.
Flowers: Summer.
Height: 80-120 cm.
Position: Full Sun.
Ideal For: Border, Cottage Garden, Cut Flower, Patio, Tubs.
Germination.
Experience: Useful.
Aftercare: Easy. 
Tall heads of bright, eye-catching rosy lavender.
Sowing Instructions.
Sow in trays, pots, etc of good seed compost in a propagator or warm place to maintain an optimum temperature of +15+18°C. Sow in well-drained compost, just covering the seed with compost.
Sowing Time: February to March. Very slow and irregular germination. Keep the seed compost cool and moist but not saturated at all times.
Growing Instructions.
Transplant seedlings when large enough to handle into 7,5 cm pots. Acclimatise young plants to outdoor conditions before planting out 60 cm apart in full sun.
Aftercare Instructions: plant in ordinary garden soil.
1,0 g = 4000 seeds.

Great cutting! An unusually tender, abundant and long-flowering plant.
A very promising perennial plant grown in our cool climate as an annual. In culture, it is not common, but very promising as an annual.
It grows in the form of large, 80-120 cm high, upright bushes with a pronounced main stem and side shoots extending at a short distance from the base of the main stem. The leaves are lanceolate, elongated, serrated along the edge and arranged oppositely. The flowers are small, amethyst in colour, and form spikelets collected in numerous umbellate inflorescences.
Verbena blooms profusely and for a long time until late autumn. Gives good self-seeding.
Agrotechnics: vervain is photophilous and quite cold-resistant, it is not demanding on soils. Prefers open sunny places. For seedlings, seeds are sown in late February-early March in boxes.
Seeds germinate slowly: seedlings appear in 10-12 days. Seedlings do not tolerate waterlogging.
Planting in place is carried out at the end of May, maintaining a distance of 25-30 cm between plants. The transplant is well tolerated at any age.
Further care is moderate watering and weeding. Withered inflorescences are pruned.

Eng.: Purpletop Vervain. Bot.syn.: Verbena patagonica.