As its latin name suggests, this (sometimes short-lived) herbaceous perennial has scabious-like leaves, but there the similarities end. The acid-yellow flowers are borne in flattened heads atop stiff, self-supporting stems, reaching a height of about 1 m. This is a plant that thrives a sunny position, but copes with semi-shade. I have grown it successfully from seed, but not in recent summers as it has always been too dull and wet in August for seed to set; hopefully 2013 will be different!
Verbena bonariensis (below) is a perfect partner for Patrinia scabiosifolia, flowering at the same time and making a fine colour contrast with similarly flattened flowerheads and one of the most popular plants in the garden among insect pollinators.
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