About
A herbaceous perennial forming a rosette of long-stalked, semi-evergreen, grey-hairy leaves, with a tall, narrowspires ofpale yellow flowers with purple centres,from mid- tolate 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
FoliageSemi evergreen
Height0.5-1 metres
Spread0.1-0.5 metres
Time to full height2-5 years
Suggested usesCottage and informal garden, Wildlife gardens, Gravel garden
Native toEurope to W China
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 root cuttings in winter
Pest resistanceMay be susceptible to mullein moth caterpillars and figwort weevil
Disease resistanceMay be susceptible to powdery mildews