How Tall Do Verbena Grow

If you’re planning your garden, you might be wondering how tall do verbena grow. These versatile plants can range from low groundcovers to towering back-of-the-border stars, with some varieties truly reaching impressive heights. Understanding this range is key to placing them perfectly in your beds and containers for a stunning display all season long.

Verbena is a favorite for its clusters of small, vibrant flowers that butterflies adore. It thrives in full sun and brings long-lasting color from spring until frost. Whether you need a spiller for a pot or a vertical accent, there’s a verbena size to suit your vision.

The simple answer is that verbena height varies dramatically by type. You can find varieties that stay under 6 inches and others that soar past 6 feet. Most common garden verbenas fall into a mid-range, typically between 12 and 24 inches tall. The final height depends on the specific species, your growing conditions, and even your pruning habits.

Height Variations by Common Verbena Types

Not all verbenas are created equal. They belong to different species, each with its own growth habit. Here’s a breakdown of what you can expect from popular groups:

Annual Verbena (Verbena x hybrida): These are the classic bedding plants. They usually form mounds 6 to 12 inches tall and can spread up to 2 feet wide. Perfect for edges and containers.
Homestead Purple (Verbena canadensis): A tough perennial groundcover. It stays relatively low, typically reaching 8 to 12 inches in height but spreading vigorously to cover large areas.
Moss Verbena (Verbena tenuisecta): Another low-growing, spreading type. It’s finely textured and usually stays under 10 inches tall, ideal for rock gardens or cascading over walls.
Brazilian Verbena (Verbena bonariensis): This is the giant of the family. Its tall, slender, branching stems can grow 4 to 6 feet tall, often with a see-through quality that adds airy height without blocking views.
Blue Vervain (Verbena hastata): A native perennial that forms clumps. It sends up sturdy flower spikes that can reach 4 to 5 feet, making a strong statement in naturalized or rain gardens.

Factors That Influence Verbena Height

Even within a specific variety, your plant’s final stature can change. These elements play a huge role:

Sunlight Exposure

Verbena needs full sun—at least 6 to 8 hours daily. In less light, plants become leggy as they stretch for the sun. This can make them taller but also weaker and less floriferous. For compact, sturdy growth, maximum sun is non-negotiable.

Soil Quality and Drainage

These plants demand well-draining soil. In rich, fertile soil with good moisture retention, verbenas will grow more vigorously and often larger. In poor, sandy soil, growth may be more stunted. Good nutrition supports reaching their full height potential.

Watering Practices

While established verbenas are drought-tolerant, consistent moisture during establishment and active growth promotes healthier, taller plants. Letting them dry out completely for too long can stress them and limit their size.

Climate and Growing Zone

In warmer climates with longer growing seasons, verbenas have more time to put on height. Some are grown as annuals in colder zones but can become perennial shrubs in frost-free areas, where they grow much larger over several years.

How to Maximize Your Verbena’s Growth

If you want your verbena to reach its maximum possible height and fullness, a little care goes a long way. Follow these steps for robust plants.

Plant in Full Sun: Choose the sunniest spot in your garden. This is the single most important factor for strong growth.
Prepare the Soil: Amend planting holes with compost or well-rotted manure. This improves drainage and provides slow-release nutrients. A slightly acidic to neutral pH is ideal.
Water Wisely: Water deeply right after planting. Continue with regular watering until the plant is established. After that, water when the top inch of soil feels dry. Deep, infrequent watering is better than frequent sprinkles.
Fertilize for Flowers: Use a balanced, slow-release fertilizer at planting time. During the season, you can switch to a fertilizer with more phosphorus (the middle number) to encourage more blooms on those tall stems.
Deadhead Regularly: Removing spent flower clusters encourages the plant to produce more stems and flowers, leading to a bushier, fuller plant. For tall types like Verbena bonariensis, you can sometimes just give it a light trim instead of meticulous deadheading.

Controlling and Pruning for Desired Height

Maybe you love a tall verbena but don’t want it to self-seed everywhere. Or perhaps your mound-forming verbena is getting a bit too leggy. Pruning is your best tool for control.

Pinching Early: When young plants are about 6 inches tall, pinch off the top set of leaves. This encourages side branching, resulting in a shorter but much bushier plant with more flowers.
Mid-Season Chop: If your annual verbena starts to look sparse in midsummer, don’t be afraid to cut it back by about one-third. It will quickly regrow with a fresh, compact form.
Managing Self-Seeders: To control the spread of tall verbena like bonariensis, cut back the flower stalks before they fully set seed. You can leave some for the birds if you want a few new plants.

Perfect Pairings Based on Verbena Height

Using verbena effectively means matching its height with good companions. Here are some ideas:

For Short (6-12 inch) Verbenas: Use them as edging along paths. Pair them with other sun-lovers like creeping zinnia or dwarf zinnias. They’re fantastic in window boxes mixed with sweet potato vine and petunias.
For Medium (1-3 foot) Verbenas: These work well in the middle of a border. Combine them with salvias, coreopsis, or ornamental grasses for a textured look. Their often-spreading habit helps fill in gaps beautifully.
For Tall (4-6 foot) Verbenas: Place these at the back of a border. They look stunning rising above mounds of catmint, Russian sage, or coneflowers. Their airy structure allows you to see through to plants behind them, adding depth.

Common Problems That Affect Growth

Sometimes, verbena doesn’t grow as expected. Here’s what might be going wrong:

Leggy, Sparse Growth: This is almost always due to insufficient sunlight. Consider moving the plant if possible.
Stunted Growth: Check for poor drainage or compacted soil. Root rot from wet feet will severely limit growth. Powdery mildew, which can affect some verbenas, also weakens the plant.
Not Flowering Well: This can be from too much nitrogen fertilizer (which promotes leaves over flowers), not enough sun, or a lack of deadheading. Switch to a bloom-booster fertilizer if needed.

FAQ About Verbena Growth

Does verbena come back every year?

It depends on the type and your climate. Many common garden verbenas are tender perennials grown as annuals in colder zones. Some, like Verbena canadensis or Verbena hastata, are hardy perennials in many regions. Verbena bonariensis often self-seeds reliably, giving the impression of returning.

How fast does verbena grow?

Verbena is generally a fast grower, especially in warm weather. From a small starter plant, it can reach it’s full mature size and begin flowering profusely within a single growing season.

Should you cut back verbena?

Yes, regular deadheading and occasional light trimming promotes continuous blooms and prevents a straggly appearance. For perennial types, a hard cutback in early spring is recommended to encourage fresh growth.

How tall does verbena bonariensis get?

Verbena bonariensis is known for its height, typically reaching between 4 and 6 feet tall under good conditions. Its slender, stiff stems make it a standout in the garden.

Can verbena grow in pots?

Absolutely! Lower-growing and trailing varieties are excellent for containers. Even taller types can work in large, deep pots. Just ensure the pot has excellent drainage and you water more frequently, as pots dry out faster.

Choosing the right verbena for your space means looking beyond just flower color. By considering how tall do verbena grow, you can place them where they’ll thrive and create the garden structure you want. From ground-hugging mats to sky-touching spires, these resilient plants offer a solution for almost every sunny spot. With proper placement and simple care, you’ll enjoy their cheerful blooms and the butterflies they attract for months on end.