Vervains ‘Homestead Purple’ is a robust, ground-hugging perennial known for its sprawling habit and vibrant purple flowers. Flourishing in full sun, its blooms present a striking contrast against rich, green foliage from spring to frost. A magnet for butterflies, vervains ‘Homestead Purple’ offers not just beauty but a vital nectar source in drought-tolerant landscapes.
I. Appearance and Characteristics
Blooming its heart out from late spring to frost, Award-winning Verbena ‘Homestead Purple’ is one of the most popular trailing verbenas with its indefatigable clusters of rich, bright purple blossoms so useful at filling large areas of one’s yard! The glossy, dark green foliage creates a lovely foil for the slightly fragrant purple flower heads. Homestead Purple matures at a height of about 6-10″ and will spread up to 3′ making it an excellent groundcover.
II. How to Grow and Care
Sunlight
For the small clusters of flowers to maintain their bright colors in pink, yellow, and purple, the vervains ‘Homestead Purple’ must have plenty of sunlight. While you can grow it in a slightly shaded area, it is recommended that the vervains ‘Homestead Purple’ has a minimum of six hours of sunlight each day. Any less than this and your flowers may be dull in color.
Temperature
Native to Northern America, Asia and Europe, the vervains ‘Homestead Purple’ is a hardy plant. While it can survive in temperatures between 14 to 19 ℃, it prefers temperatures between 20 to 26 ℃ to encourage an abundance of flowers. While it is technically a perennial, some find it easier to grow the vervains ‘Homestead Purple’ as an annual plant, depending on location and variety.
Watering
Vervains ‘Homestead Purple’ needs consistent watering throughout the spring and summer but will require less in fall and winter. Pay close attention to your plant and never miss a watering – the vervains ‘Homestead Purple’ will struggle to recover from bouts of neglect.
Ideally, you should check on your plant every single day in hot weather. If the soil is dry or the plant is starting to wilt, then it needs a drink! A good tip is to water your plant in the morning at its base rather than on the flowers. This is because a strong stream of water could damage the delicate petals.
Soil
While the vervains ‘Homestead Purple’ is not too fussy about what type of soil it is planted in, it does need to be in a well-draining one. For example, loamy soil with a PH value of 6-7 (so slightly acidic) would be absolutely ideal. If possible, choose a soil that is fertile and rich in nutrients, but not one that is heavy, such as clay.
Fertilizing
The vervains ‘Homestead Purple’ needs lots of feeding to ensure a healthy and colorful plant. Use an organic water-soluble fertilizer and apply this directly to the soil. This is because the fertilizer may burn the leaves or flowers if it comes into contact with them.
Feed your vervains ‘Homestead Purple’ twice a month in the spring and summer. Some also choose to feed their plant once a month in the fall and winter seasons too.
Planting Instructions
The vervains ‘Homestead Purple’ is very adaptable to where it is planted, whether this is in containers, borders, or even hanging baskets. It is advisable to plant it in the ground rather than in a container. This is because planting the vervains ‘Homestead Purple’ in the ground gives its roots a better chance to settle.
When planting your vervains ‘Homestead Purple’, space seedlings at least 30 cm apart, although more room may be needed for the larger varieties. This is to make sure that the roots have enough space to support the plant.
To plant the seedlings, dig a hole that is twice the size of their rootball and just deep enough for the bottom of the stem to be below soil level. After that, it would be a good idea to mix in some organic compost before planting your vervains ‘Homestead Purple’. This will help the plant to settle while improving drainage to prevent avoid root rot and encourage it to settle. You should aim to plant your vervains ‘Homestead Purple’ at the beginning of spring, before the blooming season.
Pruning
Depending on the variety of vervains ‘Homestead Purple’, it can grow between 10 to 140 cm in height and 2 m wide in its spread.
The vervains ‘Homestead Purple’ will bloom from the beginning of summer until the middle of winter, when the first frost arrives. Because of the plant’s large amount of bloomage, it can quickly start to look a little disheveled if not pruned regularly. To avoid this, prune every month in the summer. Throughout the rest of the year, consider pruning your vervains ‘Homestead Purple’ twice each season if it requires it.
During summer, when the plant is in bloom, trim back any spent flowers or withered foliage. If regularly pruning, trimming back by 2.5 to 5 cm each time will help to maintain your plant’s shape. Also, pinch tips to encourage more abundant blooms in other areas of the plant. Avoid removing over a third of the plant overall, as this may affect flowering in the future.
Propagation
While you can propagate your vervains ‘Homestead Purple’ from cuttings in the spring, it is easy to propagate this plant from seeds purchased from a garden center. Be aware that it can take a long time for the plant to flower from a seed – up to 90 days!
Plant your seeds in 5 cm of soil in a cool indoor area around ten weeks before the end of winter. After two weeks, you should start to see your vervains ‘Homestead Purple’ sprouting. Once the seedlings reach 5 to 8 cm, harden them off before planting. To harden your seedlings, begin by leaving them outdoors for an hour on the first day. Then, increase how long they are left outside by an hour each day for a week. By now, they should be ready to be planted outdoors.
Transplanting
Vervains ‘Homestead Purple’ thrives when transplanted in the lovely days of mid to late spring due to milder conditions and ample time to establish roots. Choose a sunny spot with well-drained soil for best results.
III. Uses and Benefits
Verbena Purple Homestead, is a stunning perennial groundcover celebrated for its vibrant purple blooms and vigorous growth. This hardy plant features clusters of deep purple flowers that bloom continuously from spring through frost, attracting pollinators such as butterflies and bees. Its spreading habit and resilience make it an excellent choice for filling in garden beds, hanging baskets, or containers, providing bold color and texture with minimal maintenance.
