Filed under: Gardening, Flowers
A combination of purple and white blooms that are irresistibly alluring.
Verbena bonariensis and Cleome. Photo: Marie Viljoen
When thinking of plant combinations I tend to steer clear of annuals and biennials, choosing instead perennials that will return year after year in waves of seasonal color. But it is very hard to resist the charm of this graceful combination. Cleome (also known as spider flower) and Verbena bonariensis both grow over four feet tall. While slender, the Cleome still manages to give the impression of luscious fullness and draws the eye while the skinny Verbena effortlessly insinuates itself above and between the sturdier stalks. The white and purple color pairing is arresting from a distance and invites closer inspection. Verbena self-seeds very freely so be sure to dead head religiously (it's therapeutic!) before it sets seed in order to save yourself some serious weeding the following spring.