10 Plants That THRIVE in Full Summer Sun

6. Verbena: Cascading Color for Containers & Beds

Okay, if you love designing gorgeous containers or need something that tumbles beautifully over a wall or fills in the front of a sunny border, let’s talk about Verbena! This plant is all about delivering masses of color in a lovely, often cascading way.

I swear, my hanging baskets and window boxes truly leveled up once I discovered the power of a good trailing Verbena. It’s that plant that softens all the edges and spills down the sides, creating that lush, full look we all crave. It’s like the perfect finishing touch! And thankfully, it loves sun just as much as the other troopers we’ve discussed.

Sun-Loving Spillers and Spreaders

Yep, Verbena is another one that wants full sun to really perform its best. It tolerates heat well, making it a reliable choice for those long summer days.¹ You’ll often see it used as a “spiller” in container designs – you know, the plant that cascades over the edge? It’s absolutely fantastic for that role in container gardening, adding a graceful flow to pots and baskets. But spreading types are also great as a ground cover in sunny beds, weaving between taller plants.

Now, here’s something really great: newer varieties of Verbena are much more disease resistant than the older ones used to be. Years ago, powdery mildew could be a real problem, but plant breeders have worked wonders. Choosing a modern variety means you’re much less likely to have those issues – trust me, this is a big improvement and makes growing them way more enjoyable!

Masses of Flowers in Every Hue

Verbena flowers are typically small, but they bloom in these dense clusters that pack a serious color punch.² Because there are so many blooms open at once, they create these wonderful masses of color that really draw the eye. They just look so abundant!

And the color range is fantastic! You can find Verbenas in intense purples, soft and bold pinks, fiery reds, crisp whites, and even really cool bicolors where the flowers have multiple shades.³ Whatever your color scheme for your patio pots or garden beds, there’s probably a Verbena to match. Plus, they have a nice long bloom season, often starting in late spring or early summer and going strong until the first frost, providing months of beauty.⁴ They are truly wonderful long blooming annuals.

Keeping the Cascade Coming

To keep your Verbena looking its best, good drainage is super important, especially if you’re growing it in pots. Make sure those containers have drainage holes and use a good quality potting mix that doesn’t stay soggy. While they tolerate heat, they do appreciate regular watering, especially when grown in containers or hanging basket plants, which tend to dry out faster than garden beds.⁵ Checking the soil moisture daily during hot weather is usually a good plan for potted Verbenas.

Here’s a little trick I learned: if your Verbena starts looking a bit leggy or seems to be slowing down on the blooms mid-summer, don’t be afraid to give it an occasional trim. Just snipping back some of the longer stems by about a third can work wonders to rejuvenate the plant, encouraging it to branch out, become fuller, and produce a new flush of flowers. Seriously, don’t be scared to snip! It really helps!

And like many of our other sun-loving friends, Verbena is great at attracting pollinators.⁶ You’ll often see butterflies fluttering around the colorful blooms.

So, if you need that perfect spilling plant for your containers, or a low-growing carpet of color for a sunny bed, Verbena is such a versatile and beautiful choice. Those masses of flowers just keep coming, adding effortless charm all season long!

Ready for a cheerful classic that’s practically synonymous with sunny gardens and might even help keep some pests away? Click the “next” button below, and let’s chat about the dependable, sunny Marigold!