Beginner
skill rating
Online Garden Tools
Useful videos
Verbena bonariensis (Purple top)
1 hour care
per year
per year
2.5m
Max height
Max height
0.5m
Max spread
Max spread
2-5 years
To maturity
To maturity
Plant details
Botanical name
Verbena bonariensis
Other names
Purple top, Argentinian vervain, Tall verbena, South American vervain, Verbena patagonica, Verbena bonariensis 'Buenos Aires' , Verbena brasiliensis
Genus
Verbena Verbena
Species
V. bonariensis - V. bonariensis is an herbaceous perennial, with clusters of small, purple flowers from summer to autumn held on tall stems. Leaves are narrow and sparse.
Verbena bonariensis is: Deciduous
Habit
Tall, Upright
Awards
RHS AGM (Award of Garden Merit)
Flower
Purple in Summer; Purple in Autumn
Foliage
Dark-green in Summer; Dark-green in Autumn
How to care
Watch out for
Pests
Generally pest free
Diseases
Generally disease free
General care
Pruning
Cut back after flowering.
Propagation methods
Seed
Sign up for your FREE ACCOUNT today or login to receive detailed monthly care instructions
Where to grow
Verbena bonariensis (Purple top) will reach a height of 2.5m and a spread of 0.5m after 2-5 years.
Suggested uses
Prairie planting, Beds and borders, Gravel
Cultivation
Grow in moist, well-drained, moderately fertile soil in full sun. Protect with a dry winter mulch in areas with cold winters.
Soil type
Chalky, Clay, Loamy, Sandy (will tolerate most soil types)
Soil drainage
Moist but well-drained, Well-drained
Soil pH
Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Light
Full Sun
Aspect
South
Exposure
Exposed
UK hardiness Note: We are working to update our ratings. Thanks for your patience.
Tender in frost (H3), Hardy (H4)
Companion plants
Botanical name
Verbena bonariensis
Other names
Purple top, Argentinian vervain, Tall verbena, South American vervain, Verbena patagonica, Verbena bonariensis 'Buenos Aires' , Verbena brasiliensis
Genus
Verbena Verbena
Species
V. bonariensis - V. bonariensis is an herbaceous perennial, with clusters of small, purple flowers from summer to autumn held on tall stems. Leaves are narrow and sparse.
Foliage
Deciduous
Habit
Tall, Upright
Awards
RHS AGM (Award of Garden Merit)
Create your free Shoot garden
Create your free SHOOT garden and make a record of the plants in your garden.
Add your own photos, notes, get monthly email reminders on how to care for your plants, and connect with other gardeners. Get started now.
Colour
Flower
Purple in Summer; Purple in Autumn
Foliage
Dark-green in Summer; Dark-green in Autumn
How to care
Watch out for
Pests
Generally pest free
Diseases
Generally disease free
General care
Pruning
Cut back after flowering.
Propagation methods
Seed
Monthly care advice
Get access to monthly care advice
Create a free SHOOT account and get instant access to expert care advice for this and other plants in your garden.
You'll also receive handy monthly email reminders of what needs doing. Create your free account.
Where to grow
Verbena bonariensis (Purple top) will reach a height of 2.5m and a spread of 0.5m after 2-5 years.
Suggested uses
Prairie planting, Beds and borders, Gravel
Cultivation
Grow in moist, well-drained, moderately fertile soil in full sun. Protect with a dry winter mulch in areas with cold winters.
Soil type
Chalky, Clay, Loamy, Sandy (will tolerate most soil types)
Soil drainage
Moist but well-drained, Well-drained
Soil pH
Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Light
Full Sun
Aspect
South
Exposure
Exposed
UK hardiness Note: We are working to update our ratings. Thanks for your patience.
Tender in frost (H3), Hardy (H4)
USDA zones
Zone 10, Zone 9, Zone 8, Zone 7
Defra's Risk register #1
Plant name
Verbena bonariensis (Purple top)
Common pest name
grape ground pearl
Scientific pest name
Margarodes vitis
Type
Insect
Current status in UK
Absent
Likelihood to spread to UK (1 is very low - 5 is very high)
2
Impact (1 is very low - 5 is very high)
5
General biosecurity comments
Main pathway; Vitis spp. plants for planting; already prohibited. However; further consideration of other pathways is required.
Defra's Risk register #2
Plant name
Verbena bonariensis (Purple top)
Common pest name
Scientific pest name
Phytophthora tentaculata Kröber & Marwitz - All Hosts
Type
Oomycete
Current status in UK
Absent
Likelihood to spread to UK (1 is very low - 5 is very high)
5
Impact (1 is very low - 5 is very high)
3
General biosecurity comments
Polyphagous pathogen present in parts of Europe and beyond.
About this section
Our plants are under greater threat than ever before. There is increasing movement of plants and other material traded from an increasing variety of sources. This increases the chances of exotic pests arriving with imported goods and travellers, as well as by natural means. Shoot is working with Defra to help members to do their part in preventing the introduction and spread of invasive risks.
Traveling or importing plants? Please read "Don't risk it" advice here
Suspected outbreak? Click here for contact details to report to the relevant authority.
Date updated: 7th March 2019 For more information visit: https://planthealthportal.defra.gov.uk/
In order to add a note on this plant, please add this plant to your plant lists.
Verbena bonariensis (Purple top)
Verbena bonariensis (Purple top)
Verbena bonariensis (Purple top)
Early July 2018
Verbena bonariensis (Purple top)
Verbena bonariensis (Purple top) with sweet pea
(09/10/2011)
Verbena bonariensis (Purple top)
Taken Oct 2010 (25/10/2010)
Close up taken Oct 2010 (25/10/2010)
(06/06/2011)
(26/08/2011)
(09/10/2011)
| This plant likes... | Garden match | |
| Soil types: | Chalky, Clay, Loamy, Sandy (will tolerate most soil types) | Tell us... |
| Soil drainage: | Moist but well-drained, Well-drained | Tell us... |
| Soil pH: | Acid, Alkaline, Neutral | Tell us... |
| Light: | Full Sun | Tell us... |
| Aspect: | South | Tell us... |
| Exposure: | Exposed | Tell us... |
| Hardiness: | Tender in frost (H3), Hardy (H4) | Tell us... |
COMPANION PLANTS
GARDENS WITH THIS PLANT
ARTICLES WITH THIS PLANT
Designed by Tara Dalton of Tara Dalton Garden Design. The house is a 1920s Arts and Crafts style house in a stunning position with sweeping views of the Weald. It is a large garden of approximately… read more
“There is nothing better than seeing a totally overgrown, wild and unruly garden that has the potential of being beautiful” - my thoughts when I first saw our garden ten years ago ...… read more
By garden designer Rosemary Coldstream. The British Association of Landscape Industries (BALI) has teamed up with the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) and BALI Registered members to design and… read more
Designed by Steve Dimmock & Paula Holland. The inspiration for the garden came from a personal, temporary experience of sight loss and to mark 150 years of RNIB in 2018. read more
By garden designer Charlie Bloom. Brilliance in Bloom was conceived as a garden for craftspeople in small organisations, to showcase their skills & dedication on a massive stage, shoulder to… read more
To add ? to your lists,
login to your account or subscribe.
Find out more about plant lists here
or Login
To add notes for this plant login to your account or register for a new account.
Sign up for freeor Login
To add images for this plant login to your account or register for a new account.
Sign up for freeor Login
To check if this plant is suitable for your garden first login to your account or subscribe.
or Login
DISCUSS THIS PLANT
I have a very tall plant, which is about 7 ft tall, when the blooms die off, can I cut it down to a sensible height or will this kill it?
Have I lost my Verbena bonariensis this year?
Cold area mean what in temp?
Cutting back
Verbena bonariensis
There are 27 active discussions about Verbena bonariensis (Purple top)
View all discussions