Verbena F1 Obsession Purple Shades with Eye

Verbena F1 Obsession Purple Shades with Eye Seeds

(Compact Annual Verbena — Purple with White Eye)

Verbena Obsession Purple Shades with Eye belongs to the Obsession series from Syngenta Flowers — one of the most successful and widely distributed F1 verbena series available from seed. The Obsession series is characterized by extremely early and uniform flowering, the widest color range in the verbena market, a non-stretching habit with solid branching, and heat tolerance for great landscaping performance.

The Purple Shades with Eye color variety delivers a rich, multi-toned purple palette — the flower clusters range from deep violet to bright magenta-purple, each individual floret bearing a distinctive bright white central eye that creates a vivid contrast against the deep purple petals. This bicolor detail gives the plant a vibrant, jewel-like quality that makes it exceptionally eye-catching both at close range and across a border or container display.

Obsession is very early with fast follow-up flowering, so plants stay in bloom for longer. The strong branching and low-growing compact habit make it perfect for small pots and front-of-border planting. The non-stretching characteristic is particularly valuable in container and patio use — plants maintain a neat, rounded, full appearance without becoming leggy or open, delivering a professional, well-filled display throughout the season.

Verbena Obsession is heat and drought tolerant once established, making it one of the more summer-capable annuals for Gulf growing. While verbena performs best in the mild Gulf cool season, its heat tolerance extends its productive window into the warmer spring months — longer than most cool-season annuals — and it can also perform as a warm-season annual in protected, well-ventilated positions.
An important germination note: Verbena seeds require darkness to germinate rather than light. Seeds should be covered and kept in the dark until germination occurs.

Variety Details

• Variety: Obsession Purple Shades with Eye
• Series: Obsession
• Breeder: Syngenta Flowers
• Hybrid type: F1
• Flower color: Rich purple shades with bright white contrasting eye
• Flower type: Flat-topped clusters of small five-petaled florets
• Height: 15–20 cm
• Spread: 25–30 cm
• Habit: Mounding, upright, non-stretching, well-branched
• Heat tolerance: Excellent
• Germination: 14–21 days at 18–24°C in darkness
• Powdery mildew tolerance: Good

Key Features

• F1 hybrid from Syngenta Flowers — globally proven Obsession series.
• Rich purple shades with bright white contrasting eye — vivid bicolor effect.
• Extremely early and uniform flowering — stays in bloom longer than most verbenas.
• Non-stretching, well-branched compact habit — neat and full throughout the season.
• Heat tolerant — extended performance into warmer months.
• Good powdery mildew tolerance.
• Excellent for containers, pots, borders, and mixed annual displays.
• Attracts butterflies and pollinators.

Plant Information

• Height: 15–20 cm
• Spread: 25–30 cm
• Plant type: Tender annual
• Habit: Mounding, upright, compact, non-stretching
• Sun: Full sun to partial shade
• Soil: Fertile, well-drained soil, pH 5.8–6.5
• Water: Moderate — allow soil to dry slightly between waterings; avoid overwatering
• Spacing: 25–30 cm apart

Seed Germination

• Seed depth: Light cover — 3–5 mm; seeds require DARKNESS to germinate
• Germination time: 14–21 days
• Ideal germination temperature: 18–24°C
• Important: Verbena seeds require darkness to germinate — unlike most annuals.
• After sowing, cover the tray or pot with newspaper or an opaque lid and keep completely in the dark until the first seeds begin to sprout.
• Remove the cover immediately and move to bright light as soon as germination begins.
• Before sowing, cold pre-treatment improves germination: wrap seeds in a moist paper towel, seal in a zip-lock bag, and refrigerate for 7 days before sowing.
• Then sow in moist, well-drained seed-starting mix, press seeds into the soil surface and cover lightly with 3–5 mm of mix.
• Maintain at 18–24°C in complete darkness.
• Germination takes 14–21 days.

Growing Tips

• After the 7-day cold pre-treatment in the refrigerator, sow Obsession Purple Shades with Eye seeds in a sterile, fine, well-drained seed-starting mix at 18–24°C.
• Press seeds lightly into the surface and cover with 3–5 mm of mix.
• Keep the soil slightly moist but not waterlogged — verbena is sensitive to overwatering during germination.
• Cover completely to exclude light and maintain in darkness until germination begins, then move immediately to full light.
• Once seedlings develop 2–3 sets of true leaves, transplant into individual pots and grow on in bright light.
• Pinching the growing tip once after transplanting encourages a more branched, fuller plant. Grow on at 18–22°C and feed weekly with a balanced fertilizer once established.
• Transplant to final containers or garden position in well-drained soil in full sun.
  Space 25–30 cm apart.
• Water moderately — verbena prefers soil that dries slightly between waterings and is sensitive to overwatering and poor drainage.
• Deadhead spent flower clusters regularly or shear plants back once or twice per season to refresh growth and stimulate new flowering.
• In Gulf conditions, verbena performs best through the cool season from October to April, with its heat tolerance allowing extended performance into the warmer spring months.
• Avoid waterlogging in summer — reduce watering and allow good drainage and airflow around plants.

Gulf Planting Season

• Best sowing time in the Gulf: August–September (indoors)
• Transplanting: October–November
• Expected flowering: November–April (with extended performance into May due to heat tolerance)
• Note: Heat tolerance extends performance beyond typical cool-season annuals.
• Reduce watering in summer; maintain good drainage and ventilation.

Garden Uses

• Containers and decorative pots
• Hanging baskets and window boxes
• Front-of-border and edging
• Mixed annual displays
• Patio and balcony planting
• Butterfly and pollinator gardens
• Mass planting and landscaping