Sowing them is completely uncomplicated, their flowers are fantastic to look at - but now the question arises: will they survive the winter? You can find out below whether verbena are perennial or freeze to death in winter?

Little sensitive ones

Verbena are sensitive to cool temperatures. In their home countries, they are mostly considered to be perennial. But in this country it is usually too cold for them and they freeze to death.

So don't count on your planted verbena to sprout again in the spring… As soon as the temperatures drop to around freezing in autumn, most verbenae are near the end of their lifespan.

Sow again or overwinter?

If you want to be on the safe side, propagate the verbena every year in spring using its seeds. You can collect the trained seeds in autumn and bring them home in March or sow them directly outdoors in May. The seeds usually germinate reliably.

If the verbena grew on the balcony over the summer, overwintering in your own four walls can be considered. That's how it's done:

  • Cut back verbena (remove all above-ground shoots)
  • place in a cool, light and airy room
  • after the ice saints have passed in May, put them on the balcony

Varieties that are perennial in this country

The Verbena plant genus consists of numerous species. Some are annual and others are perennial. Basically, it is advisable to plant verbena in warm and sheltered locations. Then the probability of surviving the winter time is higher.

Here are the most important types:

  • Verbena officinalis: frost hardy
  • Verbena hastata: frost hardy
  • Verbena canadensis: survives the winter with suitable winter protection
  • Verbena rigida: annual; dies after seed ripening
  • Verbena bonariensis: usually annual, perennial only with good winter protection and in sheltered places

tips and tricks

Seeds do not have to be bought anew every year. If the verbena has the opportunity to let seeds mature, they like to sow themselves. Its seeds are cold germinators and will germinate in springtime after the cold spells of autumn and winter.

KKF

Category:

Indoor plants