VERBENA rigida

Beautiful herbaceous, perennial and evergreen, rustic, with rapid growth and thick and sucking posture, belonging to the Verbenaceae family and coming from Central and South America: when fully developed it does not exceed the height of 50 cm, while the width is practically infinite, as its “adventurous” suckers can sprout anywhere. Numerous thin quadrangular section stems with an herbaceous consistency grow from its underground stems. Opposite and dark green leaves, leathery, rough and lanceolate with finely notched margins and acute apex come off from the stems. From late spring to late autumn, generous hemispherical inflorescences grow on the terminal part of the branches and on slender stems. The inflorescences are made up of small color from fuchsia to dark purple flowers.

It thrives in full sun or partial shade conditions, in any type of soil, as long as it is well drained. Although tolerant of drought, when well rooted, occasional wetting in the hottest periods of the year can facilitate a more harmonious development and a richer and more lasting flowering. In proximity of coastal areas, it is preferable to choose a sheltered position as it fears the sea brackish winds; it can overcome periods of intense and prolonged frost, as long as it is not associated with conditions of high environmental humidity. In spring, it is possible to eliminate dry, damaged, or bulky parts, but it is highly recommended to shorten all the stems almost to ground level, since in this way the plant is able, re-emerging and budding quickly, to offer a more abundant subsequent flowering. This plant is an excellent choice for containers and large pots of hanging gardens, whether they are terraces or balconies. In the open ground it is preferable to use it at the base of shrubs or trees, in rocks or along embankments and sloping areas, or, arranging several examples linearly, form low borders or, mixing it with other essences with the same needs and complementary blooms, create in the our garden definitely attractive colored corners.