Moss Verbena Purple

Glandularia pulchella

Light

Water

Low to moderate water once established. Water deeply, then allow the upper soil to dry; provide supplemental irrigation during prolonged summer heat.

Size

0.5-1 ft tall × 2-3 ft wide

Habit

Groundcover – trailing

Toxicity

Non-toxic

Description

A low-growing, spreading perennial with finely divided, fernlike foliage and clusters of purple flowers; useful as a colorful groundcover in Phoenix gardens.

Bloom Time

Spring through fall

Deciduous / Evergreen

Semi-evergreen

Special Features

Attracts Bees / Pollinators, Attracts Butterflies, Drought Tolerant

Growth Rate

Moderate to fast

Growth Habit

Groundcover – trailing

Mature Size

0.5-1 ft tall × 2-3 ft wide

Flower Color

Purple

Foliage Color

Green

Landscape Use

Border / Bed, Container / Patio, Desert / Xeriscape, Groundcover, Pollinator / Wildlife Garden, Trellis / Arbor / Wall

Garden Style

Container / Patio, Pollinator / Wildlife

Soil

Alkaline Tolerant, Sandy / Rocky, Well-Drained

Companion Plants

Angelita daisy, Blackfoot daisy, Damianita, Desert marigold, Red yucca

Non-toxic

Care Instructions

Light: Full sun to light shade; afternoon shade can help during Phoenix’s extreme summer heat.

Water: Low to moderate water once established. Water deeply, then allow the upper soil to dry; provide supplemental irrigation during prolonged summer heat.

Soil: Well-drained sandy or gravelly soil; tolerates alkaline soil but struggles in persistently wet or poorly drained locations.

Mature size: 6–12 inches tall and 2–3 feet wide.

Bloom: Heaviest bloom in spring, with repeat flowering in fall and mild weather; flowering often slows during extreme summer heat.

Evergreen / deciduous: Evergreen to semi-evergreen in Phoenix; frost or severe heat and drought may cause foliage dieback.

Growth rate: Fast.