Verbena Rigida

harmony

Hi, my Verbena Rigida x 3 planted spring 2017 have got hidden by the hardy geraniums and are not getting any light. There are tiny signs of growth but I am worried that they might not flourish now because they are getting crowded out by the geraniums which are romping away this year. I dont want to risk moving them now so should I move them in the autumn or wait while next spring (not sure where to put them though lol) might have to dig a little bit of the border out to make room. Are they easy to move and do you think they will flower this year? any advice welcome.

Pete.8

I grow them under roses.
They creep around with a fleshy root just below the soil surface and once established there's a network of roots from which the shoots pop up around this time of year. It's not easy to hoe where they grow.

Yours have probably spread a bit by now, so you could dig some bits of root up with shoots (I try and get about 3-4" of root with 1 or 2 shoots) and move them elsewhere - if you can find somewhere

errolcros

I am astonished that V rigida isn't banned in the UK.  With its runners up to 20cm under the ground it would survive an ice-age.  'Tender perennial' my foot.  Beautiful looking I have to admit.  Invasive - nearly as hard to eradicate as marestail.  I try to avoid use of poisons in my garden but after decimating two flower beds to get rid of the spreading verbena by digging it up and turning the entire beds over, (which just seemed to stimulate surviving bits of roots (or was it old seeds) into popping up everywhere, I have resorted to poison.  As of mid-August, the odd survivor is still appearing.  Do not plant except in containers.  Cut spent flowers religiously to prevent seeding and dispose of soil containing roots safely (preferably burn despite the carbon emissions).  Safest, eradicate if possible and never, ever plant again.  A shame.  A lovely, bee-friendly flowering plant.

Posy

Now isn't that interesting! I can't grow the wretched stuff. It does fine all summer and dies in the winter. Sometimes it takes two or three years to die, getting weaker and weaker each season and sometimes it just turns up its toes in one season. I have the tall verbena with the long name I can't spell all over the place like a weed but no rigida at all! 

Pete.8

I guess as with many plants if you have just the right conditions the plant will thrive.
I've had rigida for 10+ years and it pops up here and there under my roses, I just wish I had more of it.
As Posy says V.bonariensis is like a (mostly) welcome weed

Fairygirl

How strange. I can't envisage it being as hard to get rid of as Horse/marestail!
It doesn't always survive winter here, but if it's tucked in against a wall or fence with other planting, it often manages.
I take cuttings as they strike very easily at almost any time of year. I've just done some in the last few weeks. I think you could try that @harmony

It's only bonariensis I have. Is rigida tthat different? Surely not....

Silver surfer

How odd.
Never ever found it a problem.
Smaller, neater than Verbena bonariensis. 

Posy

It's really pretty.  I love it.