A Ground Cover That Covers Your Needs

by KYW's Phran Novelli

It's pretty, it's dependable, and it's filled in all over the place where I used to put annuals – it's our native Verbena canadensis, and I wonder what I'd do without it.

From a couple of plants I bought about 8 years ago, I now have Verbena all over my garden – it reseeds easily and when the seedlings sprout up each year, I just pinch them out and put them in other places – pots, beds and windowboxes – because it happily grows in any sunny spot.

I have the dark 'Homestead Purple,' but you can also get it in shades of pink, red or white. It's almost completely carefree, I never really water it or worry about it. It makes a nice swooping summer ground cover, sways in a breeze, and attracts butterflies and other pollinators – which particularly pleases one of my doggies who loves to follow buzzing bees from flower to flower.

Our native Verbena canadensis – it's one of my best friends in the garden.

(Photo: by Phran Novelli)