Sandpaper Verbena has large, rough sandpaper-like leaves and stiff, upright branches. Verbena rigida is one of the largest members of the verbena family, growing to 2 feet tall by 4 feet wide. It is very hardy and long-lived. Sandpaper verbena is used for edging or as a ground cover. The foliage mass may become as high as 3 feet. Ruffled, purple colored flowers appear in the spring and remain through the summer months. Flower color ranges from lavender to light-purple. Sandpaper verbena plants can be grouped together to form a continuous ground cover and used on banks or slopes for erosion control.

If Sandpaper Verbena starts to look ragged, just cut it back to the ground, and fresh growth will sprout from hardy underground stems. Water established plants every 10 days to two weeks. Prune to reduce the size. Clean out dead plants and cut back rank growth in early fall.