Verbena canadensis

Homestead Purple is a selection of perennial verbena that has been around for a while but is still one of the best. It consistently outperforms newer hybrids in plant trials. It also out-lives a lot of other perennial verbenas. It begins flowering in early spring with its large clusters of purple flowers that are loved by butterflies. It slows a bit in the heat of the summer but ramps back up in the fall. This plant was discovered on an old Georgia Homestead by two famous UGA Hort professors, Drs. Allan Armitage and Michael Dirr. They spotted it one day while driving through rural Georgia. This heritage lets us know how well it is adapted to the heat of the South. It has been awarded Arkansas Select and Georgia Gold Medal Honors.