# Verbena (Verbena × hybrida)

Canonical: https://plantguide.ae/plants/verbena · Updated: 2026-10-29
Source: Plant Guide (https://plantguide.ae/plants/verbena)

Verbena · رعي الحمام  
flower · exotic · family Verbenaceae · grows 0.2–0.4 m tall, 0.3–0.6 m wide · moderate growth  
full sun · moderate water need  
Ratings for Dubai (1–5, 5 is best): heat 3 · salt 2 · drought 3 · shade 1 · ease of care 3  
Sow or plant: Oct–Jan  
Uses: bedding, container, groundcover  
Garden styles: manicured, luxury

## Also known as

- **English:** Garden verbena, Vervain
- **Botanical synonyms:** *Glandularia × hybrida*
- **Arabic (العربية):** رعي الحمام
- **Persian (فارسی):** شاه‌پسند (shah-pasand)

Rounded clusters of small star-shaped flowers in nearly every colour: plant from late October through winter in full sun, choose cutting-grown types, and expect it to fade as April and May turn hot.

## About

Meet verbena, the flower that arrives as a tight, many-coloured posy and keeps flowering for months. Each three-inch cluster is made of many small star-shaped flowers in pink, red, purple, white and bicolours, and NC State says garden verbenas bloom all season if the flowers are deadheaded.

It suits the way Dubai people garden: pots by the door, hanging baskets and window boxes, where a trailing or mounding verbena fills out fast. A Dubai home-garden guide lists verbena among the annuals that do well from late October through winter, together with petunia, pansy, marigold, salvia and snapdragon.

It also rewards a little shopping care. Clemson Extension says bedding verbenas raised from seed do not do well in hot, humid climates, while the vegetatively propagated types are well adapted to heat, and NC State names the Lascar and Tuscany series as heat tolerant. Which one is in your tray is what decides how long the show lasts.

Verbena × hybrida, the garden verbena, is a hybrid group grown as an annual. RHS gives a semi-evergreen perennial of about 30 cm, usually cultivated as an annual for bedding, hanging baskets and containers, and NC State says the plants can be mounding, trailing or upright. Kew's checklist (WCVP, behind POWO) treats the garden verbena as Glandularia × hybrida, and RHS lists it under both names, which is why labels vary.

On timing, no Dubai Municipality or nursery source we found gives a verbena-specific window. A Dubai home-garden guide lists verbena with the annuals that do well from late October through winter, in beds with at least half a day of sun, and says to expect them to fade as the heat arrives in April or May. That fits Dubai's cool season, when mean highs fall from 30.7 °C in November to 24.4 °C in January and climb back to 33.7 °C in April.

Verbena asks for sun and drainage, and Dubai's sand gives the second. NC State says it needs full sun for the best flowering and is fairly drought tolerant once established, with root rot the risk from overwatering. Clemson adds that verbena must have well-drained soil, will not tolerate poor air circulation, shade or soil that stays overly moist, and that plants in very sandy, poor soil may need more frequent feeding. So: full sun, compost in the sand, drip rather than overhead watering, and a regular feed.

## Through the year

Verbena's Dubai season runs from late October to April. A Dubai home-garden guide recommends planting from late October through winter in beds with at least half a day of sun. In early October, with highs near 36 °C, plant in the evening and water well. It flowers from about November, and with regular deadheading and light feeding it carries through the coolest months, when mean highs are 24–29 °C. When bloom slows, Clemson advises trimming the whole plant back by about a quarter, watering thoroughly and feeding lightly; it returns to bloom in two to three weeks. As April's mean maximum reaches 33.7 °C the plants fade and are cleared for summer bedding such as [Vinca](https://plantguide.ae/plants/vinca.md) and [Portulaca](https://plantguide.ae/plants/portulaca.md).

| When | What | Note |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Oct–Jan | Plant: Cool-season planting window | A Dubai home-garden guide recommends late October through winter. No Dubai Municipality or nursery source gives a verbena-specific date, so choose cutting-grown, heat-tolerant types where offered. |
| Nov–Apr | Flowers: Flowers through the cool months | NC State: blooms all season if flowers are deadheaded. Expect it to fade in April or May. |
| Feb–Apr | Prune: Trim back when bloom slows | Clemson: trim the plant back by about one fourth, water and feed lightly; it returns to bloom within two to three weeks. |
| Nov–Feb | Pest watch: Mildew and root rot | RHS and NC State list powdery mildew; NC State says overwatering causes root rot. Avoid overhead watering (Clemson). |
| May–Jun | Heat stress: Fades as the heat arrives | Seed-raised bedding verbenas do not do well in hot, humid climates (Clemson). |

## Care in Dubai

- **Watering in summer:** Not grown outdoors through summer; it is a cool-season bedding plant in Dubai.
- **Watering in winter:** Water at the base, not overhead (Clemson), and let the surface dry between waterings: NC State links overwatering to root rot. Pots need more frequent watering.
- **While establishing:** Keep moist for the first few weeks until the roots have spread into the surrounding soil (Clemson).
- **Soil:** Well-drained, compost-amended soil or potting mix in full sun (NC State, Clemson). Dubai's sand drains freely but holds few nutrients.
- **Feeding:** Regular light feeding: Clemson says plants in very sandy, poor soil may need more frequent fertilisation, and container plants want a controlled-release feed or a monthly liquid feed.
- **Pruning:** Pinch the tips at planting to encourage dense branching (Clemson), deadhead regularly (RHS, NC State) and trim back by about a quarter if bloom slows.
- **Planting:** Plant from late October to January in full sun, spaced to leave good air circulation (Clemson), in soil enriched with compost, or in pots with drainage holes.
- **Pests and problems:** Powdery mildew; Root and crown rot; Aphids; Slugs
- **Toxicity:** The ASPCA has no entry for garden verbena (Verbena × hybrida), and NC State's Plant Toolbox page for it carries no toxicity information, so it is unassessed and should not be described as pet-safe. Do not confuse it with lantana, whose leaves and unripe berries are toxic and which is sometimes called shrub verbena. Keep pets and children from eating any ornamental plant.

## Good and bad

**Pros**
- Months of flowers in a very wide colour range (NC State)
- Mounding, trailing and upright types suit beds, baskets and pots
- Fairly drought tolerant once established (NC State)
- Heat-tolerant series exist, such as Lascar and Tuscany (NC State)
- Attracts butterflies, bees and hummingbirds (Clemson)

**Cons**
- Seed-raised bedding types struggle in heat and humidity (Clemson)
- Fades in April or May as the heat arrives (Dubai home-garden guide)
- Rots if overwatered or planted in soil that stays wet
- Powdery mildew can build up in still, humid weather

## Common mistakes

- Buying seed-raised bedding verbena for a long season. Clemson says these do not do well in hot, humid climates, while vegetatively propagated types are well adapted to heat.
- Planting in shade or in a crowded bed. Clemson says verbena needs full sun and good air circulation.
- Watering overhead or too often. Clemson advises avoiding overhead watering, and NC State links overwatering to root rot.
- Skipping the feed in sand. Clemson says plants in very sandy, poor soil may need more frequent fertilising.
- Expecting it through the summer. A Dubai home-garden guide says these annuals fade in April or May.

## Good to know

- Kew's checklist (WCVP) treats the garden verbena as Glandularia × hybrida, and RHS lists it under both names; shop labels use either.
- 'Shrub verbena' is lantana, a different plant with toxic berries and leaves; see the [Lantana](https://plantguide.ae/plants/lantana.md) page. 'Lemon verbena' is a different plant again.
- NC State names the Lascar, Tuscany, Aztec and Obsession series, among others, and lists Lascar and Tuscany as heat resistant or heat tolerant.
- Wikipedia notes that 'vervain' is the other English name for the genus Verbena.

## Using it in a garden

Roles: Container and basket, Bed edging, Trailing colour, Cool-season mass planting

Plant verbena in the sunniest, best-drained spot you have, at the front of a bed or in pots, baskets and window boxes where trailing types can spill. Clemson says it needs a location in full sun throughout the day and will not tolerate shade or overcrowding with poor air circulation. In pots, water more often and feed regularly: Clemson advises a controlled-release or monthly liquid feed for container plants and says they should not be allowed to dry out.

- [Petunia](https://plantguide.ae/plants/petunia.md): The two are planted side by side in Dubai's winter beds and baskets and share a full-sun, fast-draining routine.
- [Snapdragon](https://plantguide.ae/plants/snapdragon.md): A Dubai home-garden guide lists verbena and snapdragon together among late October to winter annuals, and snapdragon gives the vertical line that verbena lacks.
- [Dianthus](https://plantguide.ae/plants/dianthus.md): Dianthus's compact, fringed flowers sit at the front of a bed under verbena's looser clusters, with the same cool-season calendar.

## FAQ

**When should I plant verbena in Dubai?**  
From late October through winter, in a spot with at least half a day of sun, according to a Dubai home-garden guide. No Dubai Municipality or nursery source gives a verbena-specific window.

**Why did my verbena stop flowering and die back in the heat?**  
Seed-raised bedding verbenas do not do well in hot, humid climates (Clemson), and a Dubai home-garden guide expects annuals like this to fade in April or May. Choose cutting-grown, heat-tolerant series, and treat verbena as a cool-season plant.

**Does verbena need a lot of water?**  
No. NC State says it is fairly drought tolerant once established and that overwatering causes root rot. Water at the base, not overhead, and let the surface dry between waterings.

**Is verbena the same as vervain?**  
They are the same genus: 'vervain' is the other English name for Verbena (Wikipedia). Garden verbena is the bedding hybrid.

**Is verbena safe for pets?**  
It is unassessed: the ASPCA has no entry for garden verbena. Keep pets from eating it, and do not confuse it with lantana, which is toxic.

## Related plants

[Petunia](https://plantguide.ae/plants/petunia.md) · [Snapdragon](https://plantguide.ae/plants/snapdragon.md) · [Dianthus](https://plantguide.ae/plants/dianthus.md) · [Lantana](https://plantguide.ae/plants/lantana.md)

## Photos

![Red garden verbena (Verbena × hybrida) flower clusters above deeply toothed leaves](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/2a/%E7%BE%8E%E5%A5%B3%E6%AB%BB_Verbena_hybrida_-%E9%A6%99%E6%B8%AF%E5%8B%95%E6%A4%8D%E7%89%A9%E5%85%AC%E5%9C%92_Hong_Kong_Botanical_Garden-_%289204848189%29.jpg)  
Photo: 阿橋 HQ / CC BY-SA 2.0 / Wikimedia Commons ([source](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:%E7%BE%8E%E5%A5%B3%E6%AB%BB_Verbena_hybrida_-%E9%A6%99%E6%B8%AF%E5%8B%95%E6%A4%8D%E7%89%A9%E5%85%AC%E5%9C%92_Hong_Kong_Botanical_Garden-_(9204848189).jpg))

![Purple and white bicolour garden verbena (Verbena × hybrida) flower clusters](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/3a/%E7%BE%8E%E5%A5%B3%E6%AB%BB_Verbena_hybrida_-%E9%A6%99%E6%B8%AF%E5%8B%95%E6%A4%8D%E7%89%A9%E5%85%AC%E5%9C%92_Hong_Kong_Botanical_Garden-_%289200951252%29.jpg)  
Photo: 阿橋 HQ / CC BY-SA 2.0 / Wikimedia Commons ([source](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:%E7%BE%8E%E5%A5%B3%E6%AB%BB_Verbena_hybrida_-%E9%A6%99%E6%B8%AF%E5%8B%95%E6%A4%8D%E7%89%A9%E5%85%AC%E5%9C%92_Hong_Kong_Botanical_Garden-_(9200951252).jpg))

![A young pink-flowered garden verbena (Verbena × hybrida) plant with a rounded flower cluster and toothed leaves](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f6/Verbena_hybrida_2022-08-06_7854.jpg)  
Photo: Salicyna / CC BY-SA 4.0 / Wikimedia Commons ([source](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Verbena_hybrida_2022-08-06_7854.jpg))

## Sources

- [NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox: Verbena x hybrida](https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/verbena-x-hybrida/)
- [RHS: Verbena × hybrida](https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/161784/verbena-x-hybrida/details)
- [Clemson Cooperative Extension (HGIC): Verbena factsheet](https://hgic.clemson.edu/factsheet/verbena/)
- [Home Ease Repairs: Seasonal Garden Care Guide, Dubai Edition](https://homeaserepairs.com/seasonal-garden-care-guide-dubai-edition/)
- [Wikipedia: Climate of Dubai (1991–2020 normals, Dubai International Airport)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Climate_of_Dubai)
- [Kew WCVP, the checklist behind POWO (read via GBIF): Verbena ×hybrida, a synonym of Glandularia ×hybrida](https://www.gbif.org/species/207856373)
- [Kew WCVP (via GBIF): Glandularia ×hybrida (Groenland & Rümpler) G.L.Nesom & Pruski, the accepted name](https://www.gbif.org/species/207856375)
- [Wikipedia: Verbena (vervain)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Verbena)
- [Arabic Wikipedia: رعي الحمام (genus Verbena)](https://ar.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D8%B1%D8%B9%D9%8A_%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AD%D9%85%D8%A7%D9%85)
- [Persian Wikipedia: شاه‌پسند (سرده), the genus Verbena](https://fa.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D8%B4%D8%A7%D9%87%E2%80%8C%D9%BE%D8%B3%D9%86%D8%AF_(%D8%B3%D8%B1%D8%AF%D9%87))