The Garden Guy: A name change better captures the vivid blooms of Superbena Cobalt

Norman Winter
·3 min read
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Superbena Cobalt verbena has won awards from north to south like Top Performer at University of Georgia and University of Florida and Perfect Score at Michigan State it will win in your garden too.
Superbena Cobalt verbena has won awards from north to south like Top Performer at University of Georgia and University of Florida and Perfect Score at Michigan State it will win in your garden too.

March and April are planting season for many, and verbenas are high on the list.

We had just fallen in love with Superbena Imperial Blue verbena and piled on a bunch of awards, when ― Stop the presses! ― the vivid perennial received a new name, Superbena Cobalt. Not sure if this would be similar to Shakespeare’s "a rose by any other name" scenario, but one thing is for certain, it is even better than the Garden Guy thought.

This year a cold spell had the Garden Guy moving containers to the garage for a series of nights in the mid-teens. It was about five nights straight where the plants were afforded protection. Several of these containers had Superbena Cobalt verbena in them. There were three other containers of verbenas on the hillside that I did not move. All of them are now in a stage of riotous bloom.

Superbena Cobalt is a crazy blue or violet blue. It is this color that has always driven photographers crazy. Sometimes it looks like its name suggests. the old-fashioned cobalt blue. Then there are times it looks more purple. Even the Proven Winners website has trouble nailing the color. There, it looks purple. But I can’t fault that, because as I write this looking out my sunroom’s windows, I see blooms of cobalt blue and purple all on the same plant. One of my Facebook followers said it even seems to glow.

Last Week's Column: Garden Guy touts the hardy showiness of Sunstar Pentas for the spring and summer garden

Even More Garden Guy: Enjoy Rockapulco in the summer heat, just make sure you bring the afternoon shade

Superbena Cobalt verbena has won awards from north to south like Top Performer at University of Georgia and University of Florida and Perfect Score at Michigan State it will win in your garden too.
Superbena Cobalt verbena has won awards from north to south like Top Performer at University of Georgia and University of Florida and Perfect Score at Michigan State it will win in your garden too.

Bring on the pollinators

This verbena, winner of Top Performer at University of Georgia and University of Florida, had a Perfect Score Award at Michigan State University. In other words, from North to South and rest assured at your home too, you will have an award-winning blooming performance bringing in butterflies and hummingbirds.

The vigor will surprise you, too. Proven Winners describes it as 6 to 12 inches tall with a spread up to 30 inches. As they mound together in a mixed container don’t be surprised to see blooms 2-feet high, maybe even taller and some falling 2 feet over the rim.

Superbena Cobalt verbena is prolific at attracting pollinators. Here a pair of Eastern Tiger Swallowtails share the nectar rich blooms.
Superbena Cobalt verbena is prolific at attracting pollinators. Here a pair of Eastern Tiger Swallowtails share the nectar rich blooms.

Superbena Cobalt verbena will need a lot of sun. The soil need not be luxurious, but as I always say, fertile and well drained will be perfect. Tight compacted clay that takes a pick axe is hardly suitable. On the other hand, a large mixed container with a good lightweight potting soil will give you the green thumb.

I’ve been trialing verbenas for a long time. including old heirloom varieties, know this, the handheld pruning shear is the friend of both you and the verbena. Cutting back to remove stressed woody shoots will stimulate new growth and more blooms and add years to your planting if you are in the right zones.

Superbena Cobalt verbena and Lemon Coral sedum blooms show out in a complementary partnership of color.
Superbena Cobalt verbena and Lemon Coral sedum blooms show out in a complementary partnership of color.

I largely grow mine in mixed containers. This year the Superbena Cobalt blue blooms have coincided with an uncountable number of yellow flowers from Lemon Coral sedum. I’ve got partnerships with both Superbells Pomegranate Punch and Tangerine Punch calibrachoas, as well as Supertunia Mini Vista Scarlet petunia.

Since I am growing them in mixed containers that get watered most every day, I feed every 2 to 3 weeks with a water-soluble mix. Those in the ground can be fed with controlled release granules at planting with additional side dress applications about every 6 to 8 weeks. They are perennial in zones 8 and warmer but considered outstanding value if grown as an annual. Look for the award-winning Superbena Cobalt as you shop during planting season.

This dark morph female Eastern Tiger Swallowtail zeroes in on Superbena Cobalt verbena grown with Supertunia Vista Jazzberry petunia.
This dark morph female Eastern Tiger Swallowtail zeroes in on Superbena Cobalt verbena grown with Supertunia Vista Jazzberry petunia.

Follow Norman Winter on Facebook @NormanWinterTheGardenGuy for more photos and garden inspiration. See more columns by Norman at SavannahNow.com/lifestyle/home-garden/.

This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Garden Guy sees riotous blooms with award-winning Superbena Cobalt