Verbenas Are Great At Tying Planting Together – Here Are 4 Plants To Grow With Them
Chris is a gardening writer and nature enthusiast. He graduated from Oxford Brookes University in 2022 with an MA in Psychology. Chris works with the Leeds Green Action Society, helping their food cooperative by growing various fruit and vegetables on their two allotments in Hyde Park, Leeds.
Reviewed By COLIN SKELLY
Colin is a Horticulturist and Horticultural Consultant with experience in a range of practical and managerial roles across heritage, commercial and public horticulture. He holds the Royal Horticultural Society’s Master of Horticulture award and has a particular interest in horticultural ecology and naturalistic planting for habitat and climate resilience.
IN THIS GUIDE
Gorgeous verbenas are a gardener’s joy.
This plucky plant adds colour and interest to any garden and boasts 150 species that flower.1Verbena. (n.d.). Kew Plants of the World Online. Retrieved August 23rd, from https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:330551-2#children
Known for their long flowering period, there are varieties that bloom every month apart from in winter and are really easy to grow, making them perfect for even the most novice gardeners.
These plants are vibrant and versatile and will thrive in beds and borders as well as in pots and containers.
“Verbenas are great at tying planting together, particularly in looser naturalistic planting,” says Master Horticulturist Colin Skelly.
“I use it a lot for this reason, but also because it is a great plant for pollinators, particularly in late summer.”
Thanks to their multi-talented nature, these beauties can really set off other plants, so in this article, we’ll look at the best companion plants for your verbenas to really make your garden pop.
What Is Companion Planting?
As you can probably guess, companion planting is simply choosing a suitable plant to go beside a plant you already have in your garden – but the reasons to choose a particular plant can be varied.
You may choose the companion plant just because it looks nice next to your existing plant.
However, you can also pick plants that can repel unwanted pests or attract pollinators.
1) Marigolds
Marigolds with their explosive yellow and orange blooms look utterly delightful next to verbena’s more dainty flowers.
Verbenas thrive in full sunlight and marigolds are just the same, so these two are a match made in heaven.
Marigolds also attract butterflies, bees and other essential pollinators – so this pair really is a win-win.
2) Nasturtiums
Like verbenas, nasturtiums are also super versatile with bush varieties, species that cascade and others that climb.
Nasturtiums also come in a wide range of colours so there are limitless combinations you can choose from when pairing these two plants together.
Nasturtiums are also notoriously easy to grow, so this is a great option for beginner gardeners or if you’re just feeling lazy!
3) Zinnias
Perky, peppy zinnias are just so much fun and can certainly keep up with the charm of verbenas and neither one upstages the other.
Zinnias also flower from early spring to late autumn so both plants will be blooming in time with each other, filling your garden with whimsical colour.
Both plants require the same amount of watering, making them the ideal couple.
4) Ornamental Grasses
Ornamental grasses are a great option if you want to create a bit of texture and movement in your garden.
Verbenas have an almost wildflower appearance, so pairing them with ornamental grasses can create a real country cottage vibe.
There are loads of ornamental grasses to choose from and you will be able to find one to perfectly match any variety of verbena.
Including ornamental grass in your garden is also a great way to do your bit for the environment.
Ornamental grass helps provide shelter for small mammals and insects.
As you can see, there are lots of options when it comes to companion plants for verbenas, whether you are trying to create the right colour scheme, keen to attract pollinators or just want to give your garden that extra wow factor – there is a suitable plant for every occasion.
