Verbena bonansieris

Copperdog

Apologies for spelling! I have some of these growing in front garden and noticed a couple of the flowering shoots had got stuck under the window sil and sort of deformed. I have cut these back as they were dying off. Rest of plant is very healthy but will it flower again? Not sure this one is on the Chelsea chop list! 

Fairygirl

Yes. In a word 

If the bits you cut off were viable, you can use them as cuttings. Prepare the usual way cut below a joint, remove lower leaves ) gritty compost, shove 'em in. They root easily, but it will depend on whether the pieces were any good.to start with. 

You can do that anyway, rather then relying on them seeding, if you want more plants 

Paul B3

My wife loves Verbena bonariensis ; unfortunately it has become a bit of weed in my garden . My soil is very free-draining ; seemingly ideal for this species .

Copperdog

Thank you both for your replies.  Thats a good idea Fairy -  I haven't tried to take cuttings of them before as usually the self seeding is good enough but I would like to get into more of that side of gardening as the garden centres can be so expensive.  At one point I had a whole swathe of them in a very narrow driveway border and they looked stunning.  As usual i was always too late popping a string support around them and the late summer wind and rain would almost flatten them!  I try to 'encourage' them to stay at the back of the border now! 

Fairygirl

They're easy at this time of year Copperdog. A few in a four or five inch pot, round the edge. Tuck them somewhere quiet, and pretty much forget about them. They root quickly and you'd be able to pot on into a bigger pot by late summer. 

You could probably do them earlier in the year than I would do them up here too. In fact, I might do some myself!   

You're right about prices - never fails to amaze me the price they charge for it. I saw a pot (about 2 litre size)  of it for about 7 quid a few years ago. The 'trendiness' of plants encourages that too!