Botanical Name: Verbena canadensis ‘Homestead Purple’

Common Name: Verbena

Hardiness Zone: Perennial in USDA Zones 7–11; Grown as an Annual in Colder Climates

Size: 8–12" Tall × 18–24" Spread

Growth Habit: Low-Mounded, Spreading, Well-Branched

Sunlight: Full Sun

Soil: Well-Drained Soil; Tolerates Poor and Sandy Soils

Water Needs: Low to Moderate; Highly Drought Tolerant Once Established

Bloom Season: Late Spring through Frost

Fertilizer: Light Feeding Encourages Best Blooming

Features: Deep Purple Flower Clusters, Exceptional Heat & Drought Tolerance, Long Blooming, Pollinator Friendly, Low Maintenance

Uses: Garden Beds, Borders, Containers, Groundcover-Style Plantings, Mass Plantings

Patent: ❌ Not Patented 

Propagation: ✔ Allowed

More About Verbena canadensis ‘Homestead Purple’

Verbena canadensis ‘Homestead Purple’ is one of the most iconic and time-tested perennial verbenas available. It is widely known for its deep purple flower clusters and exceptional ability to thrive in hot, dry conditions where many flowering plants struggle.

This variety forms a low, spreading mound that fills in quickly, making it especially effective as a flowering groundcover or front-of-border plant. Once established, it spreads steadily and produces continuous blooms, delivering dependable color throughout the growing season.

Why We Like It (Our Trials)

In trials, ‘Homestead Purple’ consistently proves its reputation for toughness. It thrives in full sun, tolerates drought with ease, and continues flowering through intense summer heat without significant decline in performance.

We especially value it as a low-maintenance, high-reward perennial. When water is limited or conditions are less than ideal, this plant still performs, making it a reliable staple in southern landscapes.

Homestead Purple vs. Other Verbena

Homestead Purple occupies a foundational place in the verbena world, not for refinement, but for proving that purple verbena could behave as a true perennial long before modern breeding programs existed. Compared to EnduraScape™ Purple Fizz, Homestead Purple is looser and less uniform, trading polish and bicolor interest for sheer persistence. Its spreading habit and toughness built a decades-long reputation for returning year after year in warm climates, even without formal trial data.

Against Lanai® Varieties, Homestead Purple feels larger and more landscape-driven, prioritizing ground coverage over container balance. When viewed alongside Verbena bonariensis ‘Vanity’, the contrast is architectural—Homestead spreads and anchors, while Vanity rises and floats. Homestead Purple remains a workhorse choice for gardeners who value longevity and coverage over refinement.