About

A semi-evergreen perennial bearing slender, graceful spikes of pale cream, five-petalled, saucer-shaped flowers with purple-stamened centres over grey-green, softly hairy basal leaves. 'Cotswold Cream' is a refined selection for a sunny, well-drained border where it provides elegant, long-lasting flower spikes from mid to late 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, Sand
Soil pHAlkaline
Soil moistureWell-drained
AspectWest-facing, South-facing
ExposureExposed, Sheltered
UK hardinessH6

Plant details

Plant typeHerbaceous Perennial
HabitColumnar upright
FoliageEvergreen
Height0.5-1 metres
Spread0.1-0.5 metres
Time to full height1-2 years
Suggested usesCity and courtyard gardens, Cottage and informal garden, Gravel garden, Wildlife gardens
Native toC Europe to W Asia

Care notes

CultivationGrow in alkaline, poor, well-drained soil in a sunny position
PruningRemove faded flower spikes
PropagationPropagate by division in spring or take root cuttings in winter
Pest resistanceMay be susceptible to caterpillars and figwort weevil
Disease resistanceMay be susceptible to powdery mildews