Verbena bonariensis , what is it ?

Hello @CarolineL , thanks for the advice - but too recognise seedlings is not a skill I have mastered. Seedlings all look the sodding same to me

 

"Choose non-flowering sideshoots from either side of the main stem."
Just about to take some verbena bonariensis cuttings . The advice above is from the Gardeners World site. Problem is all my side shoots seem to have flower heads on them , is this a problem for cuttings ?

 

Hi Harry, you should be ok . Just pinch out the main stem below where the flower buds are forming. ( it Will save you doing it later anyway. )

 

Hiya Harry, as already said look for seedlings. You can save yourself time and effort if you can learn to recognise them and simply pot them up. They are distinctly different from most weeds and similar to the parent. The beauty of self sown seedlings is that you may get slight variations in colour.......some more blue than usual or even white.
Cuttings are easy.....side shoots from low down are best; take with a heel and trim up to leave 3" or so. Half perlite, water and cover with polythene bag or unheated propagator.
Agree with KFF, simply remove flower buds ....you would take off the soft tips anyway.
In practice once you have had bonariensis in flower for the summer seedlings will plentifully appear at different times of the year

 

The seedlings are easy to recognise; once they are 3-4" tall the leaves look just like the parent plant.

 

Thanks @KFF , @Verdun . I took some cuttings this afternoon in a perlite and mpc mix . Later this summer I'll try and spot some seedlings from it .

 

@KFF , @Verdun et al , well my Verbena cuttings have come on leaps and bounds . They are well rooted and twice the height. Should I now pot them on into their own 4" pots and winter them outside ? Or can I plant these hardy plants out into my flower bed ?
Going to look for seedlings around the parent plant tomorrow as well

 

Excellent Harry. Yes pot them on now, pinch back and over winter outside....fleece to hand during cold spells or in the gh. Dont plant out though. Pot up any seedlings you find

 

May I ask why?

 

Yes @HarryS you can plant them out now into your flower bed, just give them a mulch for winter protection

 

HarryS.....do half and half and let us know how you get on
For me seedlings of any kind are best protected and planted out in spring

 

Crikey, I do hope not ... I've been direct sowing hardy annuals ready for next year!

 

You'll be fine "M" , if mother nature didn't intend things to last the Winter everything would be " tender " and Englands green and pleasant land would be covered wiith greenhouses

 

Thank you, but, I'm not really worried the annuals which thrived this year were direct sown last Autumn