About
This vigorous, upright biennial or short-lived perennial, with a rosette of long, wavy-edged, silver-grey leaves at the base, and leaves alternating part-way up the stem and decreasing in length. Produces large, branching spikes of butter yellow, saucer-shaped flowers 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, Neutral
Soil moistureWell-drained
AspectSouth-facing, West-facing
ExposureExposed, Sheltered
UK hardinessH6
Plant details
Plant typeAnnual Biennial, Herbaceous Perennial
HabitColumnar upright
FoliageDeciduous
Height1-1.5 metres
Spread0.5-1 metres
Time to full height2-5 years
Suggested usesArchitectural, Cottage and informal garden
Care notes
CultivationGrows best in poor, slightly alkaline soils in full sun
PruningRemove flower spikes when faded
PropagationPropagate by seed
Pest resistanceMay be susceptible to moth caterpillars and figwort weevil
Disease resistanceMay be susceptible to powdery mildews, though this cultivar has some resistance