Verbena on a stick!
Verbena bonariensis has tall, narrow, sparsely-leafed stems on top of which flattened heads of bright lavender-purple flowers appear in late summer. It’s perfect for bringing height to an ornamental border and also works well in prairie-style planting schemes with ornamental grasses. It’s a superb butterfly plant, rivaling even buddleia.
Grow Verbena bonariensis in moist but well-drained soil in full sun. Given the right conditions, plants will self-seed freely. Leave dead stalks to provide winter interest and mulch annually with well-rotted manure or compost. The Royal Horticultural Society has given it its Award of Garden Merit (AGM).