Glandularia. There's another pretty, evocative plant name. Rose Verbena tells you why gardeners came up with common names in the first place. Despite the tag 'canadensis', cold climate gardeners may see this plant offered as an annual and an inexpensive one at that. But it's worth a shot at overwintering outdoors. Who knows.
Rose Verbena starts blooming early in the summer and keeps going if you deadhead it. It also spreads out nicely, making it a good choice for edging. It has kind of a cascading habit, which has made it popular for growing in pots.
If Glandularia canadensis doesn't ring a bell with too many of you, it's because this plant is so easy to propagate that plant sellers can push it each year as a bedding plant. But it deserves a spot in the front of your butterfly garden, because the mounded clusters of flowers not only give the butterflies a place to land, they offer multiply nectar sources.
Glandularia canadensis (Rose Verbena) 'Homestead Purple' (USDA Zones 6 - 9, 12" x 9", Lilac Blooms: Repeat Bloomer)
Alternatives:
- Eupatorium coelestinum (Hardy Ageratum)'Wayside' - (USDA Zones 3 - 8, 15" x 20", Lavender-Blue Blooms: Repeat Bloomer)
- Nepeta (Catmint) 'Blue Wonder' - (USDA Zones 3 - 8, 12" x 18", Lavender Blooms: June & August)
