Purple top vervain

Verbena bonariensis

Tall airy South American perennial with sparse wiry stems carrying small clusters of bright lilac-purple flowers. Sees-through quality lets it dominate borders without blocking the view.

Hardiness ratings

Purple top vervain hardiness across the four zone systems
SystemRatingTemperature rangeHow to read it
USDA hardiness zone Zone 7–11 −17.8 °C to 10 °C Plant tolerates down to this zone
RHS hardiness rating H4 −10 °C to −5 °C Plant needs at least this level of cold tolerance
Canadian plant hardiness zone Zone 7–9 −12 °C and warmer Plant tolerates down to this zone
Australian (ANBG) zone Zone 2–7 −10 °C and warmer Plant tolerates down to this zone

Growing notes

  • Peaks from midsummer (July) through autumn — runs from the solstice towards the equinox
  • Outstanding butterfly nectar source — the classic plant for attracting painted ladies and brimstones
  • Self-seeds freely where summers are warm enough — short-lived in cooler climates but reliably perpetuates
  • WARNING: Listed as a weed in parts of Australia (NSW) and the southern US — check local restrictions

Categories

Related plants

Cross-check Purple top vervain against your zones

Reference

Purple top vervain on Wikipedia