Perfectly named, Homestead Purple is reminiscent of bygone days when family farms were handed down generation-to-generation and Verbena was one of many gorgeous perennials that someone's great-grandmother had planted centuries prior. With her showy purple flowers like ruffled skirts slipped over green-stockinged stems, Verbena dances with blooms heavily in late spring and lightly into late autumn.

Her five-part, trumpet-shaped, fragrant flowers are larger (up to 5/8 inch across) than other Verbenas, making her able to stand alone as a very attractive invitation to butterflies. Lovely, slightly textured leaves flitter like small green moths about the stems.

You'll want to try Verbena in group plantings in flowerbeds, at the base of taller flowers, and as a border plant in evergreen plantings. Another wonderful application of Homestead Purple is when she is left to trail down the sides of raised beds or over the edges of elevated planters. Homestead Purple's foliage creeps and covers moderately fast because its many-branched stems lie along the ground, running as they go.

If you have a space that is dry and neglected, Verbena will instantly cover and refresh it with her low-maintenance, drought tolerant (once established) personality that also deters deer. She does best in full sun and well-drained soil where she can spread up to three feet wide and she appreciates a drink if you experience an extended dry spell.

Homestead Purple, with her rich blooms and delightful foliage is a plant most gardeners won't do without.

Specifications:

No unusual shipping concerns for this plant.

In order to improve Verbena's appearance and promote extended blooming, a light shearing after its main bloom period is recommended (see deadheading).

Mulch is required in northern zones to help it survive winters.