Verbena propagation

[Fracture]

I had one of my most enjoyable gardening experiences ever this afternoon. Growing right next to some homestead purple verbena was a white / purple verbena. More white than purple, although the middle of the bloom is similar in color to a homestead purple. For a picture see http://home.comcast.net/~gregfracture/verbena.jpg . This is 100% certain not a plant that I planted, and it is not a plant that was already there. I have 4 different types of verbena in my yard, 3 in the vicinity of this new one. The homestead purple is on one side of a fence, and a hot pink variety (sissinghurst or hot lips?) is on the other side. And about 10 yards away, on the pink variety side, is a white verbena.

I am trying to decide where this new white/purple verbena came from. Did the verbenas cross breed? The purple and the white? They are kind of far apart, but the end result looks about right. The white verbena is in very bad shape. I planted it last summer and I probably only watered it once or twice after the original planting. I'm not even sure if it's going to live. I cut the homestead verbena back last fall with shears. The new white/purple verbena is rooted outside of the bed where the homestead is, but it goes right towards the bed, almost like it might have been cut. (Notice the bottom right corner of the picture.) Maybe the soil is different outside the bed and that is causing the color change? Time will tell on that - I will transplant the new verbena into a better location and see if I can grow more of this same color.

I would just like some input from people who may have experience and / or expertise with cross breeding and propagation. What are your thoughts and advice? Any chance that this could be a (gasp!) mutation? I must admit I have dreams of seeing "Greg's Lilac" verbena in a catalog one day!

[Janie2004]

Hi 'Fracture'.
Here in N. Indiana, most verbenas are an annual.

Why not try taking some tip cuttings and starting them with root hormone?
They should be the same as the mother plant.

Yes, it would be 'neat' to start an absolutely new variety of a plant!
And get rich from it!! :roll:

Sincerely, Janie :D

[Newt]

Hi Greg,
Looks to me like they crossed. That's how new varieties are made. After you've transplanted it and watch how it grows, you may find that it is a good plant for mass cultivation, but it usually takes 3 years of observation before you can determine if the habit if the plant is as desirable as the color of the blooms.

Good luck with it,
Newt

[Fracture]

Thanks for the info....... Unfortunately, new blooms (3 or 4) from this plant are looking like normal homestead purple verbena. I still have not moved it. I was hoping to get a second root going and then divide that and move one of them. Strange that the one bloom would look so different from other blooms on the blant. I will still take selective care of this plant just to see what else it might do before I throw in the cross breeding towel....

[Newt]

Fracture,
Maybe you can collect seeds from that one flower and see what happens.

Good luck with it,
Newt