About
A biennial with crinkly, lobed, dark green leaves producing an evergreen basal rosette up to 40cm across. A narrow, branched flower spike, to 1.2m tall, produces widely-spaced, lemon-yellow blooms with purple centres from early summer to early autumn.
About the genus
Verbascum can be annuals, biennials, perennials or subshrubs mostly with hairy leaves and 5-petalled, saucer-shaped flowers
Growing conditions
SunlightFull sun
Soil typeChalk, Loam
Soil pHAlkaline
Soil moistureWell-drained
AspectSouth-facing
ExposureExposed
UK hardinessH6
Plant details
Plant typeAnnual Biennial
HabitColumnar upright
FoliageEvergreen
Height1-1.5 metres
Spread0.1-0.5 metres
Time to full height1-2 years
Suggested usesCoastal, Cottage and informal garden, Wildlife gardens, Gravel garden
Native toC & S Europe
Care notes
CultivationGrow in poor, alkaline, well-drained soil in full sun. A drought-tolerant plant, it grows large and needs support in fertile soils (see staking perennials)
PruningRemove faded flower spikes
PropagationPropagate by seed sown in containers in a cold frame in spring or early summer, or by root cuttings in winter
Pest resistanceMay be susceptible to mullein moth caterpillars and figwort weevil
Disease resistanceMay be susceptible to powdery mildews