THE VERBENA

Wairarapa Times-Age, 18 August 1939, Page 3

THE VERBENA

A RETURN OF POPULARITY,

It is half a century since the verbena was in the heyday of its popularity, and in those days there were few gardens which did not include more or less named varieties.

However, for a time, probably due to the propagation of weakly varieties from cuttings the verbena dropped out of favour and the majority of named sorts went out of cultivation. Of late years there has been a distinct revival of interest in the verbena, and there are numerous fine strains before the public embracing a wide range of colours.

Verbenas can be raised annually from seed, and perhaps for ordinary bedding purposes this is the best way. The plants are hardy in the Wairarapa distruct and usually survive the winter, and during the autumn and winter, if in a sheltered position, will continue to flower right through the year.

As a plant for a front row to the border or flower bed. the verbena is ideal. It is free flowering and vigorous in growth, yet at the same time does not become weedy. If the plant gets out of its latitude it should be trimmed back with a knife, which will cause frosh shoots to grow away from the centre, in this way doing the plant more good than harm.

If you have a verbena of a particularly fine colour which you would like to propagate, it can easily by done by

pegging down the shoots and then lightly covering with a little soil. The stem will throw out roots when it is covered and when sufficiently rooted can be severed from the plant and will then make a plant of itself. Seed can be sown almost any time during the spring and summer.

As a rule verbena seed is of poor germination, and for this reason once you have a good selection of colour the best method of propagation is by layering. The verbena needs full sun. and the better the soil the better the plant, not that it is at all fastidious as regards soil, as it seems to do in all soils, good, bad and indifferent. The verbena makes an ideal pot plant, and thousands are sold in England during the spring in this way. One of the finest varieties is Miss Ellen Willmott. This received an award of merit from the Royal Horticultural Society. The flowers are large, produced in large trusses, and in colour rosy pink with white eye. Recently seed of this variety has been put on the market, and it should be found in every garden.