A low, mat-forming verbena with finely cut, ferny leaves and clusters of purple flowers that bloom for much of the year. It is one of the most reliable verbenas for the Phoenix area, adding soft color at the front of beds and between boulders.
Living with it in the Phoenix Valley
Watering
Follow the shrub, groundcover and succulent schedule in our Landscape Care guide. It needs steadier water through the summer than many desert natives, but soggy, poorly drained soil leads to root rot.
Pruning
Trim lightly during lulls in flowering to tidy the plant and encourage another round of bloom. Clear dried flower stalks and spent growth in early summer.
Heat
It handles heat well, but some plants thin out or die back by late summer, especially in hot, exposed spots. A little afternoon shade helps.
How our designers use it
Front-of-bed color
Its low, spreading habit makes it a natural edge along walks and in front of larger shrubs.
Among boulders and succulents
The fine, ferny texture softens the hard lines of rock, agave and cactus.
Wildflower-style plantings
Mixed with desert marigold and other perennials, it gives a looser, meadow-like feel.
Good to know
Around the pool
No thorns and little litter. The flowers draw bees and butterflies, so we place it a short step back from the edge of the deck.
Foot traffic
It does not take being walked on. Keep it out of paths.
