Species Native to Missouri
Common Name: rose verbena
Type: Herbaceous perennial
Family: Verbenaceae
Native Range: United States
Zone: 5 to 9
Height: 0.50 to 1.50 feet
Spread: 1.00 to 2.00 feet
Bloom Time: May to August
Bloom Description: Rose-pink to rose-purple
Sun: Full sun
Water: Dry to medium
Maintenance: Low
Suggested Use: Annual, Ground Cover, Naturalize
Flower: Showy
Attracts: Butterflies
Tolerate: Drought, Dry Soil, Shallow-Rocky Soil
Culture
Easily grown in average, dry to medium, well-drained soils in full sun. Avoid wet, poorly drained soils. Self-seeds in optimum growing conditions. May be grown as an annual throughout the normal range for the species, and in particular in the northern parts of USDA Zone 5 where it is not reliably winter hardy and appreciates some winter protection.
Noteworthy Characteristics
Glandularia canadensis is commonly called rose verbena, clump verbena or rose vervain. It typically occurs in rocky prairies, fields, pastures, glades, roadsides and disturbed areas in the south-central United States from Illinois south through eastern Texas and east to the Carolinas. It is a clumping, sprawling plant that grows to 6-18” tall, and can spread rather quickly by pubescent, decumbent stems, rooting at the nodes where they touch the ground, to form an attractive ground cover. Flat-topped clusters of 5-petaled, rose-pink to rose-purple flowers appear atop ascending stems in a long, late spring to late summer bloom. Deeply lobed dark green leaves (to 4" long) have triangular bases. Synonymous with Verbena canadensis.
Genus name from Latin means acorn in probably reference to the shape of the seedpod.
Specific epithet means of Canada.
Problems
No serious insect or disease problems. Some susceptibility to powdery mildew. Botrytis blight and root rot may occur in wet soils. Snails and slugs may attack the foliage. Watch for spider mites, particularly in dry conditions.
Uses
Mass in rock gardens or border fronts. Spreads to form an attractive ground cover with a long and floriferous summer bloom. Edging. Containers. Hanging baskets.