How to Grow Apricot Crush Verbena

Apricot Crush Verbena

Verbena × hybrida 'Apricot Crush'

flower

Apricot Crush Verbena is a compact, mounding hybrid verbena cultivar prized for its vibrant apricot-orange flowers that bloom prolifically throughout the growing season. This tender perennial is typically grown as an annual and is excellent for containers, borders, and hanging baskets due to its low-maintenance nature and heat tolerance.

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Example Apricot Crush Verbena timeline · Pittsburgh, PA (Zone 6b)

Plant Apricot Crush Verbena
Around Apr 17

Near Pittsburgh's average last spring frost.
Tend & protect
Late spring–summer

Watering, feeding, and pest-watch reminders.
First Apricot Crush Verbena blooms
Around Jun 1

≈ 45 days after planting

Sample dates for Pittsburgh, PA. Sign up to get exact Apricot Crush Verbena dates for your own zip code.

Growing Conditions

☀️

Sun: Full sun, 6-8 hours daily minimum

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Water: Moderate watering; allow soil to dry slightly between waterings. Once established, quite drought-tolerant. Water at soil level to avoid wetting foliage.

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Spacing: 12 inches

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Days to maturity: 45-60 days to first blooms

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Planting depth: Surface sow or barely cover seeds; transplants at soil level

Soil

Type: Well-draining loamy or sandy soil

pH: 6.0-7.0

Amendments:

Compost or aged bark mulch Perlite for improved drainage Balanced slow-release fertilizer

Growing Zones

Find your zone →

Annual in zones 3-9; perennial in zones 10-11

3a 3b 4a 4b 5a 5b 6a 6b 7a 7b 8a 8b 9a 9b 10a 10b

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Growth Stages

Seedling

2-3 weeks

Tiny seedlings with cotyledons and first true leaves appearing

Keep soil consistently moist but not waterlogged. Provide bright light. Thin seedlings to appropriate spacing once true leaves develop.

Vegetative

3-4 weeks

Bushy plant with multiple stems and dense green foliage, no flowers yet

Pinch back growing tips early to encourage branching and bushier growth. Maintain consistent watering and full sun exposure.

Budding

1-2 weeks

Dense clusters of flower buds forming at stem tips

Reduce nitrogen fertilizer; switch to balanced or bloom-promoting formula. Maintain consistent watering.

Flowering

8-12+ weeks

Abundant clusters of apricot-orange flowers blooming continuously

Deadhead spent flowers regularly to promote continuous blooming. Water deeply but infrequently. Feed every 2-3 weeks with balanced fertilizer.

Decline (End of Season)

Variable depending on climate

Flowering slows in extreme heat or as temperatures cool in fall

Pinch back leggy stems to rejuvenate. Reduce watering if temperatures drop below 50°F. In zones 10+, can continue blooming or transition to dormancy.

Companion Planting

Plan your garden →

Plant with:

Dusty Miller Salvia Russian Sage Lavender Coreopsis Lamb's Ear Catmint

Avoid planting near:

Brassicas Cabbage Fennel

Common Pests

Ensure good air circulation; avoid overhead watering. Apply sulfur dust or fungicide spray if necessary.
Spray foliage with water to increase humidity. Use insecticidal soap or neem oil if infestation is severe.
Use yellow sticky traps; spray with insecticidal soap or horticultural oil.
Improve soil drainage; reduce watering frequency. Remove affected plants if severely infected.

Uses

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Fresh and dried cut flowers

Craft

Apricot Crush Verbena makes excellent cut flowers for fresh arrangements and dries well for dried floral crafts. The vibrant apricot color remains attractive when air-dried. [source]

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Pollinator garden

Wildlife

Attracts butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds with its nectar-rich flowers, making it valuable for pollinator gardens and supporting beneficial insects. [source]

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Container and landscape ornamental

Household

Ideal for containers, hanging baskets, window boxes, garden borders, and mass plantings where its mounding habit and prolific blooms create vibrant visual displays. [source]

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Traditional herbal use

Medicinal

Verbena species have been used in traditional medicine for respiratory and digestive support, though this ornamental cultivar is primarily grown for ornamental value. [source]

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Edible flowers

Culinary

While not commonly consumed, verbena flowers are technically edible and can be used as colorful garnish for salads and beverages, adding a slightly tart flavor. [source]

This is not medical advice. LizPlants is not a medical resource. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before using plants medicinally.

Harvest Tips

Not typically harvested for culinary purposes. Deadhead spent flower clusters regularly (weekly or as needed) by pinching off faded blooms to encourage continuous flowering throughout the season. Cut stems for fresh arrangements as desired.

Fun Facts

🌱 Verbena is derived from the Latin word meaning 'sacred branch' and was considered a sacred plant by ancient Romans.
🌱 Apricot Crush Verbena is exceptionally heat and drought-tolerant once established, making it ideal for xeriscape gardens and hot, dry locations.
🌱 The dense flower clusters are actually composed of dozens of tiny individual flowers that open sequentially, creating weeks of continuous color from a single plant.

Gardening Terms

New to gardening? Learn about terms used in this guide:

Annual Cultivar Deadhead Full Sun Hybrid Perennial Pinch Back True Leaves

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