Verbascum or Mullein

Related to Diascia, Penstemon, Digitalis or the Foxglove and many others in the Scrophulariaceae family.

This family exhibits striking spikes of flowers at this time of year, ranging in height from Verbascum Letitia at about a foot high, to Verbascum bombiciferum types, which can easily exceed six or 7 feet in height. They have large, silvery basal leaves with a felt texture and smaller leaves growing up the stems towards the flowers.

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In late spring, especially within plantings of  the bombiciferum types, expect to see a very striking caterpillar which is grey and yellow with black spots.  The caterpillar will change into a moth which pollinates the Verbascum flower.

These wonderful plants prefer a sunny position and once established, they usually colonise, around the garden.

Generally, they come under the category of short lived herbaceous perennials and therefore allowing them to become slightly wild and letting them move around the garden, to sunny crevices is good.

They can often be seen on roadside embankments, where the drainage is good and there is little chance of the plant becoming waterlogged.

Verbascum chaixii types come in various colours of white, pink and apricot and these tend to be around 3 feet tall, when in flower and foliage is green.

As mentioned at the beginning, the form Letitia, tends to have a multi-spiked flower head and is suitable for the edge of rockeries, as it is that much smaller.

The tall varieties do best in a sheltered position, away from the high winds.

Many, but not all varieties are found in Europe and North Africa.

Some people complain about the appearance of the leaves where they have been chewed by the caterpillar. However without the moths the plant does not pollinate so this is a bit of a conundrum! Personally, I prefer the stature of the bombiciferum types and accept the chewed leaves, if it means they will colonise, and then some of the plants will be completely void of caterpillar damage too.

These plants are equally happy on alkaline and acidic soils.

So if your garden hasn't got any, then make a note of it and plant one as soon as possible, or if you're in a cold region, then planting one in the spring would be better. Good luck!

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