Verbena bonariensis , what is it ?

Just bought a Verbena bonariensis , very pleased with it . I would like to grow a small group of them in a bed next season. Thinking it was a pretty common perennial in the uk , I looked up its hardiness rating. The descriptions I found...
"Short lived perennial grown as an annual , borderline hardy."
To me this description seems to tell you everything and nothing ! Is it a perennial in a sheltered garden ? Or do I need to grow from seed each year as an annual ?
TIA

 

If your conditions are anything like ours then once you have got it, you have got it. I spend as much time weeding them out as I do on any other unwanted plant. Just let them seed around. They are short lived perennials rather than annuals in that they will survive for a few years as long as the winters are not too harsh. Seed is copiously produced.

 

Hi Harry, I have grown this very nice plant for years. It gives good height without the need for staking and flowers for ages. Up here in Scotland I have to lift the plants and overwinter them in my unheated greenhouse but you might get away with not lifting? I think it is the winter wet rather than cold perhaps which it doesn't like, It's really easy from cuttings (just stick bits in pot and cover with poly bag will do the job) so I take cuttings sort of now as insurance for losses. My "parent" plants usually live maybe 4 years and then get too woody and die off. I prune the parent plants hard in the Spring.

 

I planted a couple of these last year. This year they are growing everywhere, including cracks in the paving slabs, gaps in the wall, and all over the shingle - lovely . If I find a bare patch that wants filling I pull some out of the paving and transplant them.
Next year, as they are so prolific, I`m wondering if they will move in and take over the house too.

 

Well lucky you, here's me having to work hard at keeping mine going. If they are growing in cracks in paving slabs with you that would maybe prove what I suspected in that it's winter wet that they really don't like. I have actually found 1 self seeded here just today would you believe, growing in amongst a stone wall. so even here in the frozen North they can survive if the drainage is good. I be quite happy to have your "problem" @Tetters

 

I agree with the comments above, especially seeds prolifically and needs well drained soil. It's a really useful plant. I have known it to flower in every month except January to March in southern England. I'm sure someone will come along and say they have known it in flower in February. I like the way you can see through it so it can be used even at the front of a border.

 

I agree with the others. I find it a good short lived perennial that can be pruned back if it gets too big, it's relatively short life is compensated for by it popping up somewhere else. Not particularly invasive. Bees and other insects seem to like it, it's pest free in my experience and they die of old age rather than cold with me. Had one for 7 or 8 years in the raspberries that just got the dead bits chopped off in spring.

 

I've never grown it, I always think it looks straggly and weedy.
But then I'm not normal

 

Betcha I`m even more not normal than what you are Pete, but I think it is a useful and even stately plant - as long as it`s in the right place. I`m thinking of getting a machete for mine just to clear a way to the door....

 

........See? and this is only some of them

 

I have just come in from using the Flame gun on a few thousand seedlings of it.

 

...oooh Palus tricks, that`s a bit cruel

 

Haha.. the way they have seemingly self seeded themselves symmetrically Tetters is kind of charming. Look better than mine who've come down with mildew, oh well, another thousand self seeded in the driveway paving to use.

 

Don't weed them out @Tetters I think they look great and soften the paving. The Bees will be happy too if you leave them in situ.

 

Wigan might be a bit cold for them to self-seed everywhere. Here in Essex, they are spring up everywhere like some kind of trending .. globally, in my garden.. I'm thinking of potting them up and selling them to passers-by .. too many to keep.

If you choose the hottest and sunniest spot and give a bit of protection in severe times in winter. I'm pretty sure the plant will perpetuate itself.