Verbena officinalis Bampton

Verbena officinalis 'Bampton' is a tall verbena whose foliage is strongly marked with purple, producing tall inflorescences with hundreds of small pinkish-purple flowers throughout the summer. It is fairly short-lived and persists in the garden through its sometimes numerous self-seedlings if the conditions suit it. It likes dry and rocky soils in full sun and will easily find a place in a rockery, where its slender spikes will weave between its neighbours.

Native to Europe, the officinal verbena is a plant that can be found in all neglected, rocky, and trampled places. Between June and October, the prostrate tuft grows highly branched, somewhat dishevelled, quadrangular stems that sway in the wind. They bear numerous small asymmetrical flowers with 5 fused petals. The oblong and strongly toothed or lobed leaves are aromatic and have a somewhat acrid smell. This plant has been used for hundreds of years for its numerous medicinal qualities, particularly wound healing.

The 'Bampton' variety stands out for its tall size, reaching up to 1m (3ft) high and 40cm (16in) in width, and its foliage which is strongly marked with purple. The flowers are a dark pink-mauve.

Verbena officinalis 'Bampton' loves the sun and will grow in dry, rocky, and poor soil, but it will be more beautiful in good, well-drained soil. It is quite short-lived, so don't be surprised if your parent plant disappears after a few years. Under favourable conditions, the plant will self-seed (sometimes abundantly) and thus ensure its longevity in the garden. Keep the most purple seedlings, as not all will remain true to the beautiful original dark colour.

In a rockery, it will work well with purple poppy mallow (Callirhoe involucrata), thlaspi 'Absolutely Amethyst', or the grass Schizachyrium scoparium.