Pruning Verbena Bonarisis

Hi All,

I grew and planted some Verbeba Bonarisis this year and they have done really well, grew to about 5 foot and loads of flowers. With the high winds this week they have started to lean over. I have looked on the Internet and it says prune in spring. When I took the bedding plants out of the same bed the root system was very shallow, I am worried that the root system on the Verbena is the same. Would I do any harm if I prune now before they get any more damage from the weather?

Cheers
Rusty

 

Not really. Cut back to a more reasonable height, (though to be honest, V. bonariensis is so open and airy that it doesn't blow about much anyway). You will be able to cut back a bit further in the Spring which will encourage side shoots and hopefully you'll have some seedlings popping up too.

 

yes, they usually provide seedlings which can be grown on and planted where you want them to be a little later in the Summer. Look for their characteristic blue grey leaves - look alot like mum,
Jenny

 

I have just staked mine.Will prune some later and some next year in spring.

 

Not a good idea not to prune soon. They will rock in the wind and roots will be exposed. They are not reliably perennial so I dig them up. However, you should see the seedlings now. Dig these up and pot up and protect. These seedlings make better plants than the parent plant does in the second year. If you dont see any seedlings at least cut them back, not right to the base though, and cover with straw or fleece. With miscanthus variegatus they make a superb late summer show

 

Would not cutting them back, by half, reduce wind rock, rather than increase it?

Agree they are not reliably hardy, and need a dry mulch in order to survive a cold winter. Don't cut them right back in Autumn as leaving some stems & foliage will also help insulate them from the cold.

 

I did what Kristen recommended last autumn with mine (cut back by half and a good mulch) and they survived, so I'll be doing the same this winter...as soon as they stop blooming that is!