Verbena bonariensis (Brazilian Vervain) [50 Seeds]

Germination Information: I recommend these seeds only for gardeners who have patience and are willing to experiment. In my experience, they are sometimes ridiculously easy to get going and sometimes slow to germinate.

Brazilian vervain seeds are quite small, so you may want to consider starting them in pots or cell packs. Scatter them as evenly as possible over the surface of moist growing medium and just press them in, or cover them with a very thin sprinkling of growing medium. Darkness is said to be necessary for germination, so covering the containers with an upside-down flat or piece of cardboard or black plastic may improve your results. (Remove the cover at the first sign of sprouting.)

Some sources advise setting sown seeds directly in warm conditions (around 70°F), and I have had luck with that (with germination in just 5 days, in one case). I have also found that giving the seeds a chilling period can produce good results. If you want to try that, you could enclose the containers in plastic bags and set them in your refrigerator for about 6 weeks before moving them to a warmer place. Or, if you’re sowing in late winter, just set the containers outside and they will sprout when conditions are right. (That’s by far the easiest approach, in my opinion, and it gives them alternating warm and cool temperatures, which seem to enhance sprouting.)

Yet another option is to sow the seeds directly in your garden in late winter into spring. Once you get the first plants to flowering stage, they are likely to self-sow for the following year.