Sowing it is completely uncomplicated, its flowers are fantastic to look at - but now the question arises: Will it survive the winter? Below you can find out whether verbena trees are perennial or freeze in winter?
Are verbenas perennial plants?
Are verbenas perennial? In their native countries, verbenas are usually considered perennials, but in colder regions they are often considered annuals. Frost-hardy species are Verbena officinalis and Verbena hastata. Verbena canadensis and Verbena bonariensis can be perennials with winter protection, while Verbena rigida is usually an annual.
Little sensitive ones
Verbenas are sensitive to cool temperatures. In their home countries they are mostly considered perennial. But in this country it usually gets too cold for them and they freeze to death.
So don't rely on your planted verbenas to sprout again in spring. As soon as the temperatures drop around freezing point in autumn, the end is near for most verbenas.
Sow again or overwinter?
If you want to be on the safe side, propagate the verbena from its seeds every spring. To do this, you can collect the trained seeds in autumn and plant them at home in March or sow them directly outdoors in May. Usually the seeds germinate reliably.
If the verbena grew on the balcony over the summer, you can consider overwintering it at home. This is how it works:
- Cut back verbena (remove all above-ground shoots)
- place in a cool, light and airy room
- after the Ice Saints have passed by in May, put it on the balcony
Varieties that are perennial in this country
The Verbena plant genus consists of numerous species. Some are annual and others are perennial. It is generally advisable to plant verbena in warm and protected locations. Then the probability of surviving the winter is higher.
Here are the most important species:
- Verbena officinalis: frost hardy
- Verbena hastata: frost hardy
- Verbena canadensis: survives the winter with suitable winter protection
- Verbena rigida: annual; dies after the seeds ripen
- Verbena bonariensis: usually annual, perennial only with good winter protection and in sheltered places
Tips & Tricks
Seeds don’t have to be bought every year. If the verbena has the opportunity to let seeds ripen, it likes to sow itself. Their seeds are cold germinators and germinate in spring after the cold period in autumn and winter.
