About
This biennial, or short-lived, evergreen perennial covered with silky, silver hairs. The basal rosette of leaves may be up to 60cm across; the sulphur yellow flowers, 4cm across, are sparsely borne on a densely woolly stem up to 1.8m tall, in summer.
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 typeHerbaceous Perennial
HabitColumnar upright
FoliageEvergreen
Height1.5-2.5 metres
Spread0.5-1 metres
Time to full height1-2 years
Suggested usesGravel garden, Cottage and informal garden, Wildlife gardens
Native toTurkey
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
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