Is Verbena deer resistant?
Verbena bonariensis
About Verbena
Rough stems and leaves that deer leave alone, on a plant that is mostly stem: tall, see-through, and useful for putting height at the front of a border without hiding what is behind it. Hardy to about zone 7. North of that it behaves as an annual, but it self-sows so freely that a planting often persists for years anyway, moving around the bed as it goes. That freedom is a real caution in mild climates. It is listed as invasive in parts of the west and in warm regions generally, seeding well beyond where it was planted. Where it is hardy, deadhead before seed sets if there is wild land nearby.
Soil and care
- Soil pH
- 6 to 7.5
- Drainage
- Well drained
- Water
- Low
- Fertility
- Low
- Spacing
- 18 to 24 in apart
- Growth rate
- Fast
- Maintenance
- Low
Tolerances and uses
- Drought
- High
- Salt
- Moderate
- Pollinators
- High
- Containers
Similar to Verbena
Other perennials with the same deer rating.
- African LilyAgapanthus sp.Zones 8–11, genus rangeSeldom damaged
- AsparagusAsparagus officinalisZones 2–9Seldom damaged
- AsterAster sp.Zones 3–8, genus rangeSeldom damaged
- AstilbeAstilbe x arendsiiZones 3–8Seldom damaged
- Baby's BreathGypsophila sp.Zones 3–9, genus rangeSeldom damaged
- BastardsageEriogonum wrightiiZones 5–10Seldom damaged
Where Verbena grows
Hardy across most of these 36 states on zone range alone. Mountain and coastal areas sit outside the ranges used here, so check your own zone before ordering.
- Pennsylvania
- New Jersey
- New York
- Connecticut
- Massachusetts
- Virginia
- Maryland
- Illinois
- Missouri
- North Carolina
- Tennessee
- Georgia
- Texas
- California
- Oregon
- Washington
- Rhode Island
- Delaware
- West Virginia
- Kentucky
- South Carolina
- Florida
- Alabama
- Mississippi
- Louisiana
- Arkansas
- Oklahoma
- Kansas
- Idaho
- Utah
- Nevada
- Arizona
- New Mexico
- Alaska
- District of Columbia
- Hawaii
Browse from here
Every list Verbena belongs to.
Hardy in these zones
Common questions about Verbena
- Is Verbena deer resistant?
- Verbena (Verbena bonariensis) is rated Seldom Severely Damaged on the Rutgers NJAES four-tier scale. Light browsing at worst; rarely ruined.
- What hardiness zones does Verbena grow in?
- Verbena is hardy in USDA zones 7 to 11. Outside that range it will either not survive winter or will struggle with summer heat.
- Does Verbena grow in shade?
- No. Verbena wants full sun and will grow thin and flop in shade.
- How big does Verbena get?
- Mature height is roughly 24–60 in. Growth rate is fast.
- When does Verbena bloom?
- Verbena flowers from June–October.