What's Blooming

Verbena Firehouse^TM ‘Peppermint’ 

Flower Field, Flower Dome

With their clusters of delicate, colourful flowers, verbenas often stand out when used in displays. On display now is Verbena Firehouse^TM ‘Peppermint’, a cultivar with bicoloured flowers of red petals brushed and streaked with creamy white, which bears similarity to the Christmas favourite – candy canes, or round, swirly red-and-white peppermint candies!

Comprised of more than 60 species, most species of Verbena are native to the Americas and parts of Asia. The genus name Verbena, is adopted from the Latin word verbēna, which means ‘leafy twigs’ or ‘branches’, especially those of medicinal or religious use. Indeed, the type species, Verbena officinalis, native to Europe, has long been associated with both herbalism and spiritual or supernatural qualities in ancient Egypt, Greece, and Rome.

Ornamental flowering verbenas like this one on display commonly bloom in a broad spectrum of colours, especially in shades of pink, red, purple, lavender, white and coral. There are also bicoloured and striped-flowered forms, which make them even more attractive! The flowers are held in dense, rounded clusters above the green foliage, creating a festive, high-contrast look! They are nectar-rich and attract bees, butterflies, and even hummingbirds. The morphology of the Verbena inflorescence allows for an easy landing for its insect pollinators, allowing multiple insects to feed from a single cluster of flowers. A single Verbena patch can become a lively feeding station!  Come spot these adorable flowers on display at our Christmas Train Show!  

This article is part of our What's Blooming series.