Plant of the Month – March, 2012

Verbena ‘Lanai Twister Pink’. All photos by Jimmy Turner.

Verbena ‘Lanai Twister Pink’

Verbena ‘Lanai Twister Pink’

AT A GLANCE
Latin name: Verbena ‘Lanai Twister Pink’
Common name: Verbena
Flowers: 2” blossoms of dark pink to white
Mature size: 10” tall by 18” wide
Hardiness: Summer annual
Soil: Well-drained
Exposure: Full sun
Water usage: Low
Sources: Local nurseries 

Here’s a new verbena that caught our eye and performed really well in our summer trials at the Dallas Arboretum the last couple of years. ‘Lanai Twister Pink’ has unique blossoms that start out pink, then as the individual florets age, they change color to dark pink, producing a constant series of dark-centered flowers. With that striking color combination, you can pick this plant out from across the garden! Like all the ‘Lanai’ verbena series, this one performs well in the erratic summers of Texas. They just need to be planted in well-drained soil; they do not handle wet feet at all.

We prefer to grow them as “spillers” in containers or in hanging baskets in order to show those awesome flowers off to best effect. They are great mixed with any white-, blue- or pink-colored flower. Fertilize them regularly to keep them growing and blooming throughout the season.

About the author: Jimmy Turner is the senior director of gardens at the Dallas Arboretum. Visit http://www.dallasplanttrials.org for more information on his trials.