Scientific: Verbena tenera
(Synonyms: Glandularia pulchella, Glandularia pulchella var. gracilior, Shuttleworthia pulchella, Verbena geraniifolia, Verbena pulchella, Verbena tenuisecta)
Common: moss verbena, rock verbena, fineleaf ferbena, moss ferbena
Family: Verbenaceae
Origin: La Plata region of South Brazil
Taxonomic clarification: Verbena tenera [Syst. Veg., ed. 16. 2: 750 (1825)] was recognized for a few recent decades as Glandularia pulchella, but has recently reassumed its older name.
Pronounciation: Ver-BEE-na te-NER-a
Hardiness zones
Sunset 8-24 (summer annual in colder zones)
USDA 9-11 (summer annual in colder zones)
Landscape Use: Perennial border accent, edging plant, ground cover, rock gardens, container and hanging baskets. Great when arranged in groups with individual plants orientated about 2 feet on center.
Form & Character: Delicate, diminuative, graceful and soft, low, prostrate, matting, and recessive.
Growth Habit: Herbaceous perennial, often grown in Phoenix as an annual, a spreading ground cover, usually less than 4- to 6-inches tall, but spreading up to 3-feet wide.
Foliage/Texture: Foliage small, deeply cut, pinntified, glaucous green, to 1-inch long; fine texture.
Flowers & Fruits: Abundant upright cymes of pink, rose, violet, blue to magenta flowers on 2- to 4-inches stalks; fruits inconspicuous.
Seasonal Color: Flowers during much of the year in Phoenix.
Temperature: Tolerant of heat, susceptible to frost and freeze damage.
Light: Full sun to partial shade. Avoid intense western exposures.
Soil: Fast-draining soils are preferred, organically-amended, sandy soils are best. In Phoenix, one can use decomposing granite as a landscape mulch when planting moss verbena, it is one "tough cookie".
Watering: Apply regular water in Phoenix especially during the summer months.
Pruning: Head or trim back lightly during lulls in flowering only as needed.
Propagation: Seed, cutting
Disease and Pests: Susceptible to root rot in poorly drained and/or damp soils.
Additional comments: Moss verbena is the best Verbena taxon for Phoenix landscapes; a great colorful herbaceous perennial for small- and medium-size landscape spaces. It is often used as warm season annual. White and pink flowering cultivars are available. One cautionary note, it is intolerant of foot traffic.
There are a few named cultivars:
