Rose verbena is a herbaceous perennial and a member of the verbena family, Verbenaceae, that also includes teak and lantana.  It is native to open clearings, meadows, fields, glades, waste places, and roadsides from Pennsylvania and Illinois, south to Florida and Texas.  Plants grow 6″-18″ tall and have trailing stems with dark green leaves that are up to 4″ long and are sharply toothed and lobed.  Flat-topped terminal clusters of  rose-pink to rose-purple flowers with 5 petals appear from spring until late summer. Plants spread quickly as stems form roots at the nodes where they touch the ground.  Self seeding may occur when growing conditions are optimal but plants die out if soil is not well-drained.  A good choice for front of the border, containers, and ground cover.  The genus name, Glandularia, comes from the  Latin word glandula meaning little nuts and refers to the way glands feel when palpated.  Plants in the genus Glandularia have glands on the leaves and sepals.  The generic name, Verbena, is the Latin word meaning leafy branch or twig and refers to the leaves and twigs of some plants used in sacred ceremonies. The specific epithet, canadensis, is the Latinized form of Canada and refers to the native range of the plant in North America.

Type: Herbaceous perennial

Bloom: Flat-topped terminal clusters of rose-pink to rose-purple 5 petaled flowers from spring to late summer

Size: 6″-18″ H x 12-24″ W

Light:Full sun

Soil: Average, dry to medium, well-drained

Hardiness: Zones 5-9

Care: Low maintenance

Pests and Diseases: Susceptible to Botrytis blight, powdery mildew, root rot, snails, slugs, spider mites.

Propagation: Seed, division, cuttings

Companion Plants: Echinacea purpurea, Liatris pycnostachya, Monarda fistulosa

Outstanding Selections: ‘Homestead Purple’

By Karen