Verbena officinalis (Vervain) seeds

Centuries old native wildflower which has long been prized as a medicinal herb and was even used to treat the plague!  A slender perennial with tall stems topped with spikes of delicate, mauve-pink flowers, Vervain grows on chalky grasslands, wastelands and along roadsides.  An unfussy plant which loves dry and poor soils and is a valuable source of nectar for butterflies.  Easy to grow and self seeds.

Hardy Perennial
Flowers: July to September
Height: 50cm
Position: Sun in poor soil

Packet of 100 seeds

Seed bred in the UK. 

RHS Plants for Pollinators. 

The RHS Plants for Pollinators mark is only given to plants that support pollinating insects. Find out more at rhs.org.uk/plantsforpollinators

GROWING GUIDE

Seeds can be sown outdoors where they are to flower during spring or autumn,  or indoors at any time.

Indoors

Sow on the surface of moist, free-draining seed compost in pots or seed trays and just cover with a very thin sprinkling of compost.  Propagate at 15 to 20 C in a propagator or on a windowsill shaded from direct sun.  Germination should begin within about 3 weeks but can sometimes be slow and erratic so patience might be needed!

When the seedlings emerge, grow them on at a slightly cooler temperature and pot them up when they have their second set of leaves into 9cm pots.

Harden the plants off by placing them outdoors during the day for 10 days before planting out after the last frosts.

Outdoors

Prepare bare soil or bare patches in grass by digging out weeds/grass and raking over.  Water well, leave for a few weeks and dig out any new weeds/grass. Scatter seeds on the surface and press lightly into soil.  Water with a fine spray/mist.  Remove any obvious weeds as they appear and keep area well watered in dry weather.

Cut down plants in autumn after they have set seed and remove any weeds. Rake over any bare patches and firm the soil.   New plants will emerge in spring.