Verbena bonariensis Cloud

The compact version of the South American Vervain, suitable for container cultivation. It is a truly undemanding plant, very floriferous and wandering. Its aerial flowering in dense umbels of light purple, with a cloudy appearance, is accompanied by a constant flight of butterflies. This perennial, grown as an annual, brings a lot of elegance and lightness to the accompanying plants, especially in containers and pots. Flowering from late spring to autumn, it is moderately hardy and should be considered as an annual plant. Sterile, it does not self-seed, unlike its larger cousins.

Verbena bonariensis is a plant from the Verbenaceae family, native to South America, from Brazil to Argentina. The 'Cloud' variety, shorter and bushier, will reach about 60 cm (24in) in height when flowering, 20 to 30 cm (8 to 12in) for the foliage, and 50 cm (20in) in width. It is a hybrid whose basal leaves, light green, elongated, with toothed edges, are less rough than those of the typical variety. In late spring or early summer, vigorous square stems shoot up towards the sky, branching out at the top. They bear numerous rounded inflorescences, composed of many tiny tubular flowers, mauve in color with purple bracts that attract many pollinating insects. The flowering continues uninterrupted until October.

Like a light curtain, Verbena bonariensis Cloud filters views and adds depth to flower beds. Easy to grow, as long as it is in the sun, it looks stunning in a large pot, alongside bidens or chamomile, as well as grasses for a light and natural aspect.