Verbena rigida 'Santos'

RHS Plant Profile

slender vervain 'Santos'

Synonyms

Verbena rigida 'Santos Purple'
Verbena 'Santos Purple'

Herbaceous Perennial

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Santos' is a small, bushy, spreading, tuberous perennial to 30cm tall, grown as an annual, with oblong leaves and dense clusters of small, purple flowers from early summer to autumn

Position

Full sun

Soil Types

Chalk, Clay, Loam

Max Height

0.5-1 metres

Max Spread

1-1.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity: 1–2 years
Max Spread: 1-1.5 metres
Max Height: 0.5-1 metres

Growing Conditions

Chalk Clay Loam

Moisture: Moist but well–drained
pH: Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun

Aspect: South–facing
Exposure: Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20): H3
Drought Resistance: Yes

Colour & Scent

Season	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family: Verbenaceae
Native to GB/Ireland: No
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Bushy, Spreading branched
Genus: Verbena can be annuals, perennials or sub-shrubs, with toothed or pinnately lobed leaves and small, usually 5-petalled, salver-shaped flowers, typically held in spikes or panicles, in summer or autumn
Name Status: Accepted

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow in moist but well-drained, moderately fertile soil in full sun with shelter; protect with a dry winter mulch in frost-prone areas

Propagation

Propagate by stem tip cuttings in late summer

Suggested planting locations and garden types

City and courtyard gardens
Cottage and informal garden
Wildlife gardens
Gravel garden
Garden edging

Pruning

No pruning required. Cut back after flowering

Pests

May be susceptible to slugs, leafhoppers, thrips and aphids

Diseases

May be susceptible to powdery mildews