Verbena bonariensis, tall verbena, Brazilian verbena
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Annuals

Verbena bonariensis

tall verbena, Brazilian verbena

Verbenaceae

South America — Argentina (Buenos Aires region), southern Brazil, and Uruguay; moist grasslands and disturbed ground. Naturalized worldwide; invasive in Australia, New Zealand, South Africa — not invasive in Pacific Northwest.

At a Glance

TypePerennial
HabitUpright
FoliageDeciduous
Height3-6 feet (90-180 cm)
Width18-24 inches (45-60 cm)

Growing Zones

USDA Hardiness Zones

7 - 10
Zone 7
Zone 8
Zone 9
Zone 10
These zones indicate the coldest temperatures this plant can typically survive.
Frost Tolerancehardy

Key Features

Attracts Pollinators
Attracts Butterflies
Deer Resistant
Drought Tolerant
Maintenancevery low

Overview

A tall, slender, short-lived perennial in the family Verbenaceae, native to moist grasslands, roadsides, and disturbed ground in South America — primarily Argentina (the specific epithet bonariensis means 'of Buenos Aires'), Brazil, and Uruguay. Widely naturalized in warm-temperate and subtropical regions worldwide. Plants form a low, sparse rosette of coarsely toothed, lance-shaped, rough-textured leaves, from which emerge numerous slender, square, branching, nearly leafless stems 3–6 feet (90–180 cm) tall. From June through the first killing frost, stem tips bear dense, flat-topped clusters 2–3 inches (5–8 cm) across of tiny, five-petaled, bright violet-purple flowers. The wiry, nearly leafless, branching stems create a transparent, see-through effect — plants can be placed in front of or among other perennials without obscuring them. Intensely attractive to butterflies throughout the season. Hardy to zone 7; self-seeds prolifically and reliably replaces itself even where winters kill the parent plant. Note: considered invasive in parts of Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa; not invasive in the Pacific Northwest. Non-toxic.

Native Range

Native to moist grasslands, roadsides, and disturbed ground in South America — primarily Argentina (especially the Buenos Aires region), southern Brazil, and Uruguay. Widely naturalized in warm-temperate and subtropical regions worldwide; not invasive in the Pacific Northwest.

Suggested Uses

Planted or allowed to self-seed throughout mixed borders, prairie gardens, and naturalistic plantings where its transparent habit can weave among other plants without blocking views. A defining 'matrix' plant in the New Perennial/naturalistic planting design vocabulary. Exceptionally valuable for butterfly gardens. Effective threaded among echinacea, rudbeckia, agastache, and ornamental grasses. The violet-purple color mixes effectively with virtually any palette.

How to Identify

Identified by tall, slender, square, branching stems 3–6 feet (90–180 cm) that are nearly leafless except at the base, with dense, flat-topped clusters 2–3 inches (5–8 cm) across of tiny bright violet-purple five-petaled flowers at the stem tips from June through frost. The extremely slender, nearly leafless wiry stems creating a transparent 'see-through' garden effect, combined with the vivid violet-purple flat-topped flower clusters, is unmistakable.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height3' - 6'
Width/Spread1'6" - 2'

Colors

Flower Colors

violet
purple

Foliage Colors

green

Fall Foliage Colors

no change

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~20 weeks
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SummerFall
Blooms June through the first killing frost — 5 months or more in the Pacific Northwest. Tiny violet-purple flowers are produced in continuous succession on new stem tips throughout the season. The transparent, wiry habit reads as a soft violet haze across a border rather than a solid block of color. Heavy butterfly activity from July through September, particularly painted ladies and skippers.

Detailed Descriptions

Flower Description

bright violet-purple; tiny five-petaled flowers in dense flat-topped clusters 2–3 inches across at wiry stem tips; continuous June through frost

Foliage Description

coarsely toothed, lance-shaped, rough-textured, dark green; sparse basal rosette — stems are nearly leafless and wiry, creating transparent see-through effect

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

Full Sun
Requires 6-8 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight

Soil Requirements

pH Range6.0 - 7.5(Neutral)
357912
Soil Types
sandloamchalk
Drainage
well drained

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Low

Frost Tolerance

hardy

Time to Maturity

1 year

Drought Tolerance

Drought tolerant when established

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Plant in full sun in lean to average, well-drained soil with a pH of 6.0–7.5 after all frost danger has passed. Tolerates poor, dry soils well — rich soils produce overly lush, floppy growth. No staking needed in lean soils in full sun. Hardy to zone 7; always self-seeds prolifically and the seedling colony reliably replenishes itself after cold winters. Allow seedlings to establish in desired locations; unwanted seedlings are easily hand-pulled.

Pruning

Cut the previous year's stems to the ground in early spring before new seedlings emerge, or leave through winter for modest structural interest. Self-sown seedlings appear in April–May and require no encouragement. Thin to 12–18 inch (30–45 cm) spacing. Deadheading reduces self-seeding if population control is desired.

Pruning Schedule

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early spring

Maintenance Level

very low

⚠️ Toxicity Warning

Non-toxic