id please

hi can anyone tell me what this plant is called , seem to think its a climber , can`t remember where it came from :confused:

 

Hi dancing queen, it looks like a Verbena Bonariensis, they grow to about 5 ft.
See this link for info

http://www.bbc.co.uk/gardening/plants/plant_finder/plant_pages/961.shtml

 

Yes, I agree with Blackthorn. Its a lovely plant - but mine aren't in flower yet. I have a patch, and a couple of years ago I counted over 30 butterflies on it at one instant.

 

It will seed around a bit, so you can just dig them up and relocate them if you wish. Its not a climber, the stems are quite stiff. Give it sun and good drainage. It is one of those plants they describe as a 'see through' plant.It has become a bit of a cliche but it means you can plant it at the front of the border and because it so light and delicate you will still see the smaller plants behind it.

 

Mine aren't see-through- I planted all the straggly seedlings at the backof the border in front of my paved area. This year they're about 4' tall despite being trimmed earlier in the year, and the flowers are just opening. I can't see up the garden any more, it's almost like a hedge. They'll have to be moved in Autumn, I didn't know when I planted them they were perennials!
they are very pretty though and loads of insects on them last year.

 

thanks for the info folks , its nice to know what its called :D

 

They are not the hardiest of perennials though. A good hard winter will polish them off and then the seedlings will come through. The see through bit comes because they have a ground level rosette, then very thin stems that you see through and the combs, or sprays of flowers all at 4 feet, but you can see under the flowers that almost seem to float in the air.

 

only had it last year i think. and it did`nt make much died right back in winter but seems to be doing ok at the minute

 

I have had mine in Yorkshire for five years now, and not lost one. But I leave the old foliage on over winter as a bit of added protection. A couple of years ago, there was a new chap at RHS Harlow Carr (right by me), who came from the south. He planted a lot of these but cut them back in autumn, and they all died. But it wasn't a problem because they all reseeded themselves. I don't think you would have any such problems in Cornwall DQ.

My other thought is that because it is such a thin plant it might look rather lost in a pot. I would be tempted to put several in a border if you can. There will be no shortage of seedlings - but you might have a shortage of border

 

I tried to grow lavender last yr and somehow got verbena.I didn`t know it reseeded.I just left them in the pots until they`d finished and then threw the lot away.I agree they would have been better in clumps in a border.

 

I lurv VBs I've grown a load from seed this year to supplement the couple I bought last year and have planted them out in amongst other things all the way down the garden. Hopefully next year I've have lovely purple tops bobbing about over the tops of smaller plants...hopefully! The bonus is slugs aren't too keen on them (yay!)

 

Windy - you should have a good show this year. I grew all my Verbenas from seed initially when I started, and I had a good show that same year.

 

Love them too - as do the butterflies later on in the year. I seem to have lost a few this year (have let them self seed everywhere after first plant 4 or 5 years ago), so will probably give a helping hand with the seed scattering this autumn!