Verbena rigida Polaris® Purple | Slender Vervain

Verbena rigida Polaris® Purple is an elegant, exceptionally floriferous variety with vibrant purple flowers, a naturally spreading habit and a remarkably long flowering season.

Growing approximately 50 cm tall and 35 cm wide, Polaris® Purple forms dense, colourful plantings without becoming excessively tall. It is an excellent choice for flower borders, mixed containers, naturalistic gardens, landscape planting and as a flowering ground cover.

The long-lasting, fragrant flowers are highly attractive to bees, butterflies and other beneficial insects, bringing both colour and life to the garden throughout summer and well into autumn.

Plant Information

• Botanical name: Verbena rigida
• Common name: Slender Vervain
• Series: Polaris®
• Variety: Purple
• Flower colour: Vibrant purple
• Height: Approx. 50 cm
• Width: Approx. 35 cm
• Habit: Bushy, spreading and floriferous
• Flowering: June – late October
• Position: Sun – partial shade
• Crop time: Approx. 12–14 weeks
• Hardiness zone: 7a–11
• Seed form: ApeX
• Use: Borders, containers, landscape planting and ground cover

Why Grow Polaris® Purple?

Vibrant purple flowers • Long flowering season • Fragrant blooms • Excellent for pollinators • Approx. 50 cm tall • Spreading habit • Perfect for borders • Excellent in containers • Beautiful flowering ground cover

Vibrant Purple Flowers

Polaris® Purple produces masses of bright purple flowers that create an eye-catching display from a distance.

The intense colour works beautifully in both modern and naturalistic gardens and combines especially well with:

Ornamental grasses • Cosmos • Echinacea • Salvia • Zinnias • Dahlias • Gaura • White and pastel flowers

Planting several plants together creates a particularly impressive sweep of purple through summer borders.

Long and Abundant Flowering

One of the greatest qualities of Polaris® Purple is its exceptionally long flowering season.

Under suitable conditions, plants flower from approximately June until late October, providing months of colour.

Warm temperatures, plenty of sunlight and long summer days encourage faster and more abundant flowering.

Excellent for Bees and Butterflies

The numerous flowers attract bees, butterflies and other beneficial insects, making Polaris® Purple an excellent addition to pollinator-friendly gardens.

Its extended flowering period also provides a valuable succession of blooms throughout much of the growing season.

Excellent for Borders and Ground Cover

Unlike the tall and airy Verbena bonariensis, Verbena rigida develops a lower, denser and more spreading habit.

At approximately 50 cm tall, Polaris® Purple works beautifully through the front and middle of flower borders, where it creates colourful masses between perennials and other summer flowers.

Its naturally spreading growth also makes it particularly useful as a flowering ground cover.

Beautiful in Containers

Polaris® Purple performs equally well in large pots and mixed containers.

Its spreading growth softens the edges of containers, while the vivid purple flowers provide a strong colour accent throughout summer.

Sowing Guide

When to Sow

For summer flowering, sow indoors in late winter or spring.

Under suitable growing conditions, allow approximately 12–14 weeks from sowing to a flowering crop.

Direct sowing is also possible once outdoor conditions are sufficiently warm.

How to Sow

Use a fine, clean and well-drained seed-starting compost.

Moisten the substrate before sowing.

Sow approximately:

3–4 seeds per plug or cell.

Cover the seeds lightly with vermiculite.

Light is not required for germination.

Germination

Maintain a temperature of approximately:

20–22°C

Under suitable conditions, the first seedlings can be expected after approximately 14 days.

Keep the growing medium evenly moist during germination and do not allow it to dry out completely.

After Germination

Once seedlings have emerged, gradually reduce temperatures to approximately 18–20°C during the day.

Provide plenty of light to encourage strong, compact and uniform plants.

Good air circulation is important. As the seedlings become established, begin allowing the growing medium to dry slightly between waterings.

Transplanting

When seedlings have developed several true leaves and a healthy root system, transplant them into individual pots or larger containers.

Use a fertile, loose and well-drained growing medium.

Planting Outside

Verbena is sensitive to frost.

Move plants outdoors only after all danger of frost has passed.

Gradually acclimatise young plants to outdoor conditions before planting them permanently in the garden.

Light and Position

Polaris® Purple grows well in full sun to partial shade.

For the strongest growth and most abundant flowering, choose a warm, sunny position.

Long summer days and high light levels encourage flowering.

Watering

Once established, Verbena rigida prefers to grow slightly on the dry side rather than in constantly wet soil.

Water thoroughly and then allow the growing medium to dry moderately before watering again.

Good drainage is essential. Avoid permanently waterlogged soil, but do not allow plants to dry out completely.

Soil and Feeding

Plant in well-drained soil or a high-quality container growing medium.

Container-grown plants benefit from regular feeding with a balanced fertiliser for flowering plants during active growth and flowering.

Perennial or Annual?

Verbena rigida is a perennial species in sufficiently mild climates and is generally suited to hardiness zones 7a–11.

In colder climates, it can be grown very successfully as a flowering annual, producing abundant flowers within a single growing season.

Polaris® Purple vs. Verbena bonariensis

Although both are excellent garden verbenas, they create very different effects.

Verbena bonariensis grows tall, upright and airy, carrying its flowers on long slender stems.

Verbena rigida Polaris® Purple remains lower, denser and more spreading, reaching approximately 50 cm in height.

Polaris® Purple is therefore particularly useful for the front and middle of borders, containers and flowering ground cover, while Verbena bonariensis is better suited to creating tall, transparent structure.

Why Choose Polaris® Purple?

Vibrant purple flowers • Fragrant blooms • Long flowering season • Attracts bees and butterflies • Approx. 50 cm tall • Dense spreading habit • Excellent for borders • Beautiful in containers • Ideal as flowering ground cover • Perfect for naturalistic planting

Verbena rigida Polaris® Purple (Slender Vervain) is an excellent choice for gardeners looking for a long-flowering verbena with vibrant purple flowers and a lower, spreading habit. Easy to combine with ornamental grasses and summer flowers, it brings months of rich colour and valuable pollinator activity to borders, containers and naturalistic plantings.