As summer peaks the tall stems of Verbena bonariensis shoot up in gardens all over the country. It’s been a popular plant for sometime and deservedly so with its dainty lilac flowers and tall, elegant stems. Handy as a filler or planted in great swathes, it combines well with grasses and plants such as crocosmia and rudbeckia. It’s known as a ‘see-through’ perennial – one that can be included towards the front of the border despite it’s height.

A few years ago I discovered another excellent ‘see through’ verbena in Beth Chatto’s garden and nursery – Verbena macdougalii ‘Lavender Spires’. I was captivated by the structure of the flowers and, like V. bonariensis, I noticed that butterflies loved it.

It’s tall (1.8m) and erect with branching spikes of deep lavender flowers from mid-summer to autumn. It doesn’t take up much room width-wise (45cm) so can be tucked into a border quite easily. Like V. bonariensis, it needs a sunny, free draining location and shelter from strong winds. It’s a sterile hybrid of V. macdougalii, so don’t expect lots of seedlings. I propagated mine by division after a couple of years. Not flashy, but unusual and I just love it.