How to Grow Verbena in Pots and Baskets Without Mildew
Verbena is the plant that spills over the edge of a hanging basket in February in clusters of red, purple, pink and white, and it is the first plant on the balcony to turn white with mildew if the air is still. So how to grow verbena well is mostly about two choices: start it at the right time (October to November in the plains), and give it full sun with space to breathe. Seed works, but it is slow and erratic; for most beginners, nursery seedlings or cuttings win.
Before you start
- Plant: bedding or garden verbena (Verbena x hybrida, also sold as Glandularia); not lemon verbena, which is a different shrub
- Start (plains): seed in October; seedlings or cuttings October to November
- Pot: 25 cm (10 inches) wide for 2 to 3 plants; a 30 cm hanging basket for 3 to 4
- Mix: 2 parts soil, 1 part compost, 1 part coarse sand or perlite
- Sun: 6 hours or more; it flowers poorly in shade
- Bloom season: roughly January to April in Punjab, longer in Islamabad
- Weak spot: powdery mildew in crowded, damp, still air
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Is verbena annual or perennial?
Bedding verbena is a short lived perennial grown as a winter annual on the plains. In theory a plant can survive summer in shade; in practice most collapse in June heat or monsoon humidity and are replaced each October. Tougher perennial types, such as Verbena bonariensis (tall, airy purple stems) and Verbena rigida, last several years and grow well in Islamabad and the hills. This page focuses on bedding verbena, the one sold in nursery trays every winter.
When should you sow verbena in Pakistan?
| Zone | Seed | Seedlings or cuttings |
|---|---|---|
| Karachi, coastal humid | November | November to December |
| Multan, Sukkur, Bahawalpur | Early to mid October | Late October to November |
| Lahore, Faisalabad, Delhi | October | October to November |
| Islamabad, Peshawar | September to October, or February | October, or March |
| Hills | March to April, indoors | April to May |
How do you grow verbena from seed?
- Use fresh seed and a fine, well drained seed mix (see the seed starting guide).
- Water the tray and let it drain until just damp.
- Sow seeds on the surface and cover with a thin layer of mix, about 3 mm.
- Cover the tray to keep it dark and humid, and keep it warm, ideally around 20C to 25C. October in Lahore is about right indoors.
- Check daily. Germination is slow and uneven, often over two to four weeks. Overwet mix is the most common reason seed rots before it sprouts.
- Remove the cover as seedlings appear and move to bright light.
- Transplant at 4 to 6 true leaves into the final pot.
Seed or nursery seedlings: which should a beginner choose?
Seedlings, honestly. Verbena seed is fussy, germination is patchy, and plants from seed take longer to flower. A tray of nursery seedlings in late October or November gives flowers weeks sooner with almost no risk. Seed makes sense if you want many plants, a specific colour, or enjoy the challenge. Pick short, bushy seedlings with dark green leaves and no white powder.
Cuttings: free plants from a friend’s verbena
- In October to November, or February to March, cut soft, non flowering shoots 6 to 8 cm long.
- Remove lower leaves and any flower buds.
- Push them into a small pot of half cocopeat, half sand.
- Cover loosely with a clear plastic bag for humidity, and keep in bright shade.
- Roots usually form in two to four weeks. New leaf growth is the sign.
- Pot on into the final container.
Trailing types also root wherever a stem touches soil. Pin a stem down with a bent wire in a neighbouring pot; cut it free once rooted.
The airflow rule
Verbena gets powdery mildew before almost any other winter flower. Space plants 25 to 30 cm apart, hang baskets where wind moves them, water the soil in the morning rather than the leaves, and pull off the first leaf you see with white powder. A crowded, overwatered pot in a sheltered corner will almost certainly turn white by February.
Pot, water and feeding through the season
Pots and baskets suit verbena because drainage is easy to control. Use the mix above; the potting mix guide explains the ratios.
- November to February: water when the top 2 cm is dry, every 3 to 5 days. Morning only.
- Frost nights: plants tolerate light cold. Bring hanging baskets under the roof edge on a hard frost.
- March to April: every 1 to 2 days as heat builds; baskets dry fastest.
- May onward: in Multan or Lahore most plants decline; shade can stretch the season a few weeks.
- Feeding: compost in the mix, then a half strength liquid feed with more potassium than nitrogen every two weeks once buds appear.
Pinching and deadheading
Pinch out the tip of each young plant once, at about 10 cm, so it branches. Through the season, snip faded flower clusters back to the next pair of leaves. Without deadheading, plants set seed and flowering slows. If plants get leggy in March, trim a third of the stems back; they reflower in about two to three weeks.
Why is my verbena not flowering?
- Less than six hours of sun.
- Too much nitrogen: lots of leaves, few flowers.
- Not deadheaded, so the plant is busy making seed.
- Mildew stress weakening the plant.
- Heat: above about 35C, flowering slows naturally.
Pests and diseases
| Problem | Sign | First response |
|---|---|---|
| Powdery mildew | White powder on leaves | Remove affected leaves, space plants, water the soil only |
| Root rot | Wilting in wet soil | Better drainage, water less |
| Aphids | Clusters on tips and buds | Water spray, then insecticidal soap |
| Spider mites | Speckled, dull leaves in dry heat | Mist leaf undersides |
| Leaf miners | Wavy white trails | Pick off affected leaves |
How to save verbena seeds
Let a few flower clusters fade on the plant in March. When the seed heads turn brown and dry, cut them into a paper bag. Rub gently to release the small, dark, rod shaped seeds, dry them for a week, and store in an envelope somewhere cool until October. Seed from hybrid plants gives mixed colours, so expect surprises.
Don’t confuse garden verbena with lemon verbena, a separate herb shrub that the ASPCA lists as toxic to cats; don’t brew tea from bedding verbena. Keep pots and fertiliser out of toddlers’ reach. If water sprays and soap don’t control pests and you reach for a chemical, read the label, wear gloves and a mask, spray on a still evening and keep children and pets away until it dries. Call a doctor or poison help line if anyone swallows a garden product, with the label in hand.
Grow it or skip it?
Plant it in Lahore, Delhi, Islamabad and Peshawar, especially in hanging baskets and pot edges where it can trail. Maybe in Multan and Karachi: the season is shorter and mildew or heat ends it sooner. Choose nursery seedlings if you are new; try seed in your second year. In the ground, give it a raised, well drained bed. More winter flowers in Phool aur Paudhe.
Verbena growing questions
How do you grow verbena from seed?
Sow on a damp, fine mix in October, cover with about 3 mm of mix, keep dark, warm and just moist. Seedlings appear slowly, often over two to four weeks.
When should I plant verbena in Pakistan?
Sow seed in October and plant seedlings in October to November in the plains, November in Karachi, and spring in the hills.
How long does verbena take to flower?
Nursery seedlings usually flower within weeks; plants from seed often take about three months.
Why is my verbena not flowering?
Usually too little sun, too much nitrogen or no deadheading. Six hours of sun and regular removal of faded clusters bring flowers back.
Why does my verbena have white powder on its leaves?
That is powdery mildew. Remove affected leaves, space plants for airflow and water the soil in the morning, not the leaves.
Is verbena annual or perennial?
Bedding verbena is a short lived perennial usually grown as a winter annual on the plains. Verbena bonariensis and rigida are true perennials in cooler areas.
Can verbena be grown from cuttings?
Yes. Soft shoots 6 to 8 cm long usually root in two to four weeks in sandy mix under a plastic cover.
How do you care for verbena in hanging baskets?
Full sun, a free draining mix, watering every day or two in warm weather, and regular deadheading. Baskets dry out faster than pots.
How do you save verbena seeds?
Let a few clusters dry brown on the plant, collect them into a paper bag, rub out the seeds and store cool and dry.