Sandpaper verbena

Verbena rigida

Description

The Sandpaper verbena gets its name from its rough textured leaves that feel like sandpaper when touched. It is a low spreading perennial with unique flattened stems and deep purple flowers in the spring. It can reach 8-12 in. high, 3-4 ft. across in 2-3 years time.

The Sandpaper verbena is native to South America, but shows wide adaptability to Inland Empire gardens when planted in sunny and warm locations. It grows well on banks, along walks and among rocks in southwestern and Mediterranean style gardens, and can be clipped in the winter to maintain its size. It is a colorful perennial that grows best for 3-5 years for its floral impact.

Plant Type: Perennial
Foliage Character: Evergreen
Habit: Spreading
Growth Rate: Fast
Foliage Color: Medium green
Flower Color: Purple
Flower Season: Spring
Soil Adaptations: Well-draining soil
Exposure Adaptations: Heat, Frost, Drought, Aridity, All day sun
Function: Wildlife value, Raised planters, Flowering accent plant, Borders, Attracts butterflies, Banks, Small spaces
Height: 8 in. – 12 in.
Width: 3 ft. – 4 ft.

Watering Schedule: Low 2

For most situations, we recommend watering deeply every 2 weeks after establishment.

Learn how to apply this watering schedule to your landscape on our How to water waterwise and California native plants page.

Important Notes

These are general guidelines. Always observe and adjust as necessary for your landscape.
If it rains over 1” you will likely not need to water for at least another two weeks. Before watering again, check the soil. It should be significantly dry at least 4” below the soil surface before watering.
To save water, in many cases you can go longer in between waterings during the winter, often up to 3-4 weeks between watering for well-established plants. Two weeks after watering, check the soil approximately 4” below the surface. If it is still significantly moist, you can wait longer before watering again.
In most cases, if you have a “smart timer” or weather sensitive irrigation controller, you may use these features to save some water in in the fall and winter. If you are using automatic weather adjusting functions, continue to allow the timer to run every two weeks. It will adjust the number of minutes it runs to account for the cooler weather.
It is important to group plants with the same water needs together in the landscape to avoid needing to over or under water plants when running your irrigation system.

Sandpaper Verbena usually dies back all the way to the ground, or at least significantly, during the winter. When this happens, cut it all the way to the ground with pruners, hedge shears, or a high powered string trimmer, depending on the size of the planting. It can also be lightly pruned at any time of the year to clean up and maintain its size. Sandpaper verbena spreads by roots, and can do so aggressively in the garden. Plan to either dig it out once it grows where you do not want it. If the parts you dig out have roots, they can either be transplanted or potted up into a container with potting soil and given away. You can also consider installing a root barrier to help keep the plant “in bounds,” (S). References