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The state of verbena bonariensis

BenCottoBenCotto Posts: 4,288
in Plants
Mine has been too spindly this year with just a smattering of flower tufts. Is this a universal phenomenon?

By contrast the wretched enchanter’s nightshade (a great name for such an annoying weed) is appearing everywhere and with gusto.
Rutland, England
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  • B3B3 Posts: 25,252
    Mine are pretty much the same. They're all self seeded and I think they grow more spindly than the ones you buy. I've been twisting and plaiting the stems. It keeps them more upright.
    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • KeenOnGreenKeenOnGreen Posts: 1,791
    The most prolific weed/self-seeder in our garden, despite us not having grown any for years.  There are literally hundreds of them all over the place.  
  • B3B3 Posts: 25,252
    Same here😒
    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • peteSpeteS Posts: 933
    I've had the same couple of plants growing for about 3-4 years now, and they have developed into lovely large plants, but have never self seeded...until now...there are literally dozens of seedlings sprouting up here there and everywhere, so I will be embarking on a mass pull up in the next couple of days to keep them under control.
  • B3B3 Posts: 25,252
    Good luck with that  @peteS 😊
    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • FireFire Posts: 17,116
    Mine have been fine and keen (very sandy soil)
  • WallflowerBryWallflowerBry Posts: 81
    I bought a large VB from a garden centre last April and it put on a great show. However,  this year I have blimin' hundreds of them popping up all over the place. It's gone from hero to zero in my eyes. That'll teach me not to leave dead heads on!  
  • FireFire Posts: 17,116
    edited August 2021
    We have a front garden locally full of VB every year and it's fun to see it popping up all along the gutters and in the tarmac. Anyone can come along and pot them up. Ox eye daisies too.
  • SamBevingtonSamBevington Posts: 134
    Mine were lovely popping through a formal garden and gracefully nodding their heads,  a magnet to the Bees and Buterrflies. Dug up half a dozen self seeders in the graveĺ drive - only one survived. This year have thirty plus on same section of gravel - is this conclusion that they only grow/flower like Foxglove
  • B3B3 Posts: 25,252
    Be glad you can still count them! The trouble is, they tend to splat the seeds all in the same place rather than spread them around. 
    In London. Keen but lazy.
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