VERBENA BONARIENSIS AND VERBENA BONARIENSIS 'LOLLIPOP'

I was mooching in a huge garden centre when I saw these two types of Verbena bonariensis on display, but it wasn't the flowers, or the long stems, that immediately caught my attention, it was butterflies.  Verbena bonariensis is a butterfly magnet and even in the less than natural surroundings of grassless, treeless, garden centre they had found their way to these plants.   I even thought a butterfly was going to end up going home with me in the car. Below is Verbena bonariensis. There are no butterflies at the time I was taking the photograph, just an insect at the top and I can't tell whether it's a bee, a hoverfly or just your common or garden fly. 

Verbena bonariensis

The label tells us that Verbena bonariensis flowers from early summer until the first frosts, that it can achieve a height of 5ft (150cm) with a spread of 1'6" (45cm). It likes full sun and well-drained soil.

Below is Verbena bonariensis 'Lollipop' a more dwarf variety, and its growth is 60cm x 60cm (2ft x 2ft). It's growing requirements are the same as the taller Verbena bonariensis. 

They are both hardy and herbaceous perennials. You often see the stems and flowers of this plant in florists' flower arrangements. 

Verbena bonariensis 'Lollipop' 

The Verbena bonariensis 'Lollipop' version appears to have slightly bluer flowers on photo and in the garden.