Verbena Bonariesis for butterflies

[lilyrose]

Anyone else grow this plant? I have found that it attracts many more butterflies than buddleja, it also attracts bees, moths and even little birds, and it is earlier flowering then the sedums.

[Stinky Bob]

Yes we grow it from seed, it also self seeds like mad, nice plant

[burntfacedjake]

I had Speckled Wood, Comma, Peacock, Small Tortoiseshell and Painted Lady all feeding off a clump of Verbena in my garden earlier today. It's a magnet for bees as well.

I recently saw it planted with Fennel in a hedge at Dove Cottage nursery near Halifax. The fennel is great for attracting hoverflies. It looks good with the grass Stipa gigantea as well.

[aeshna5]

Agree it's a fantastic plant for insects + I find the plant attractive in itself. I've found Blue Tits examining the seed heads in my garden during the winter.

[Susie]

I agree. It is a great flower for butterflies and is also very attractive in its own right. It doesn't take up too much space (unlike buddleia), has a very long flower period and is pretty drought resistant. All in all just about a perfect flower for the garden.

[andy brown]

while we are on the best flower thread what are any others that you would recommend as i am replanting a lot of my garden next year and want to attract as many as possible, have shad through to full sun so full spectrum of plants positions are possible

Cheers

Andy

[aeshna5]

Originally Posted by andy brown

while we are on the best flower thread what are any others that you would recommend as i am replanting a lot of my garden next year and want to attract as many as possible, have shad through to full sun so full spectrum of plants positions are possible

Cheers

Andy

If you go on the wildlife gardening sub-forum, there's been many answers to this question.

[SusieBee]

Originally Posted by lilyrose

Anyone else grow this plant? I have found that it attracts many more butterflies than buddleja, it also attracts bees, moths and even little birds, and it is earlier flowering then the sedums.

I agree, it's way up there as one of my fav flowers. The colour is so vibrant and more so after sunset. It's been great for taking pix of butterflies too as my Buddleja has grown too tall to reach.
A few recent pix


Cheers SusieBee

[cutecoot]

Originally Posted by Susie

It doesn't take up too much space (unlike buddleia), has a very long flower period and is pretty drought resistant.

Yes, that's what I like about it too, Susie .. apart from it being a very attractive plant, and magnet for butterflies .. each plant takes up hardly any space, so can be crammed in with loads of other plants, plus not only is it drought resistant but used to thrive in the really boggy parts of my garden too. A great all-rounder, can't beat it

[Mr Mag00]

i love the structure but i do find it difficult to grow, clearly doing something wrong andit has never self seeded