No color stirs the passion in serious gardeners like blue. Sure, we like orange, yellow, red and pink but blue is the must-have color for mixed containers and baskets. It is like having sapphires in our pocket plantings by the front entrance to the home. It is for this reason The Garden Guy was eager to put Superbena Imperial Blue verbena to the test.
Not only did I parse out my supply of Imperial Blue to various baskets and containers but I gave some to my son James the “Guru of All Things Color” in the commercial landscape. As usual, he beat me like a drum in design but I am used to it.
Superbena Imperial Blue will arrive at your garden center in the spring of 2022. So put on your camo and stealthily be ready when they hit the garden center. I expect as usual there will not be enough to go around for all who want this new verbena. There is a reason it is called Imperial. Nothing short of intense in color, it is the blue that makes your heart race.
If you have not tried Superbena verbenas, you need to get on the train. I am in my third year with Superbena Stormburst, and the best white on the planet, Superbena Whiteout. Despite all of the other butterfly plants I have in my garden the Superbenas seem to always be attracting attention and it is not just butterflies but hummingbirds too.
Superbena Imperial Blue like most of the other Superbenas will get 5- to 12-inches tall with a spread of 30-inches. They need fertile well drained soil and plenty of sunlight to reach their true performance potential. Superbenas for the most part are considered an annual and one certainly of exceptional value.
I live in Zone 8a and in my zone and warmer, we may just get them to return in the spring, which causes the perennial happy dance to break out. The caveat to that is good soil drainage. Son James and I also believe in cutting the verbena back periodically to keep rejuvenating growth and new blooms coming. It also helps to minimize chances for spider mite infestations.
In my baskets and containers, I partnered Superbena Imperial Blue verbena with other new plants coming out in 2022 like Boldly Coral geranium and Supertunia Vista Jazzberry petunia. James on the other hand created dazzling horse troughs partnering the Imperial Blue with Superbena Whiteout, Supertunia Bordeaux. Luscious Bananarama lantana and the new Suncredible Saturn bush sunflower also debuting in 2022.
From a pollinator standpoint, it has really been incredible. Eastern Tiger Swallowtails, Spicebush Swallowtails and Pipevine Swallowtails have all found Superbena Imperial Blue to be a regular feeding location. But smaller butterflies like the American Lady also make frequent visits. I suppose the most exciting of all is seeing the Rubythroated hummingbirds make visits. Make sure you try the Superbenas in baskets as I think the off the ground aspect plus cascading flowers are a natural attraction for the hummers.
Superbenas may have a funny sounding name to you but it is just Proven Winners way of saying these are Super Verbenas. Follow me on Facebook @NormanWinterTheGardenGuy for more photos and garden inspiration.
