Verbena Rigida Care Tips: How to Grow Verbena Rigida

Verbena rigida is a tuberous, herbaceous perennial and member of the Verbenaceae family. The plant is native to South America and particularly thrives in Brazil and Argentina. In North America, it thrives in USDA hardiness zones seven through ten. Verbena rigida is also known by the common names tuberous vervain, slender vervain, large-veined verbena, hardy garden verbena, sandpaper verbena, and stiff verbena.

In warm climates with ample moisture, Verbena rigida makes for a hardy groundcover. It can blend with related species from the family Verbenaceae—including purpletop vervain (Verbena bonariensis) and trailing verbena (Glandularia canadensis)—to produce a variegated garden carpet.

Verbena rigida can grow in many soil types provided that it receives ample sun exposure and plenty of water. Its dark green foliage color and purple flowers will add flair to your garden from early summer to mid-fall, with peak bloom in late summer.

1. 1. Hardiness: Verbena rigida grows best in USDA hardiness zones seven through ten. When planted in USDA zone seven, apply a winter mulch to protect the plant from frost.
2. 2. Soil: Slender vervain grows in many soil types, from clay to chalk to loam to sand. It can also handle a wide array of soil pH values, but it does best in neutral or slightly alkaline soils.
3. 3. Sunlight: Verbena rigida receives full sun in its natural habitat. It can handle part shade, but greater sun exposure leads to a better growth rate.
4. 4. Water: The tuberous vervain is drought-tolerant, but it does best when situated in moist soil. Water it regularly, particularly when plants are young or when preparing for propagation.
5. 5. Bloom time: Verbena rigida produces its most intense blooms in late summer. With enough sunlight, it will begin blooming in early summer and continue through the fall. Flowers appear on branched stems that extend from clusters of oblong dark green leaves.

Keep a few general tips in mind when caring for Verbena rigida.

1. 1. Pests: While Verbena rigida is a low-maintenance plant and resistant to most pests, it may be visited by mites, aphids, whiteflies, thrips, or leaf miners. Wiping down foliage and applying neem oil is a simple way to deal with these insects.
2. 2. Wildlife: Verbena rigida can safely be planted in deer and rabbit territory.
3. 3. Invasiveness: In its native habitat, Verbena rigida is a perennial. In colder climates, germination occurs annually via self-seeding. Members of the Verbenaceae family produce continuous underground stems known as rhizomes, which in turn produce thickets of stems above ground. This efficient propagation method can turn Verbena rigida into a weedy invasive species if not managed well.
4. 4. Toxicity: Verbena rigida is not known to be toxic to any animal species. It is safe for yards with small children and pets.

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