Verbascum

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At-A-Glance Information

This genus of biennials and perennials, commonly called Mullein, includes species which need full sun and moderate water to perform and bloom well. They form basal rosettes or tufts of green foliage and bloom in summertime, sending up dense spikes of flowers. Foliage is commonly covered in hairs, and flowers range in color from yellow (the most common) to orange, reddish-brown, purple, and blue, to white. Most species are native to Europe and Asia, with the highest species diversity occurring in the Mediterranean region. Use Mullein as taller plants at the back of flower beds, in mixed borders, or in pollinator gardens. Take care when planting these in the garden, as the fine hairs on foliage can cause an allergic skin reaction in sensitive individuals. Some species of Verbascum are considered quite invasive in areas of North America; check with local authorities before installing.

Verbascum Species and Varietals

The genus Verbascum includes over 450 distinct species of flowering plants, and is a member of the Figwort family, Scrophulariaceae. Mullein growing zones vary depending on the species. For more information, see the descriptions below. To find your zone, click here: Zone Map.

Verbascum blattaria (Moth Mullein)
This species is biennial, and grows in zones 1-11 and 14-24. It is native from Europe to central Asia and North Africa, and reaches 6 feet tall and 2 feet wide with large, dark green basal leaves. Flowers are yellow or creamy white, and a variety also comes with pink flowers. These plants are considered weeds in some areas of the United States, so check with local authorities before installing.

Verbascum bugulifolium
Native to Bulgaria and western Turkey, plants in this species reach up to between 6 and 30 inches tall, and form a basal rosette of green foliage. Flower stems bear small green leaves, as well. Flowers are yellow to blue-green in color with purplish lines.

Verbascum bombyciferum 'Arctic Summer' ('Polarsommer')
This popular ornamental cultivar is biennial and grows best in zones 2-11 and 14-24. It is native to Turkey and reaches to 6 feet tall and 2 feet wide at maturity when in bloom. Foliage is furry, and greyish green and flowers are yellow, blooming on upright spikes that rise above foliage in spring and summertime.

Verbascum chaixii (Nettle-Leaved Mullein)
This perennial species is best in zones 2-11 and 14-24. It is native to Europe and produces pale yellow flowers with red eyes. Cultivars include 'Album' (pictured, with white flowers that have purple centers), 'Sixteen Candles' (with yellow blooms that have purple eyes), and 'Pink Domino'.

Verbascum dumulosum (Shrubby Mullein, Dwarf Mullein)
Best in zones 7-9 and 14-24, this perennial reaches a foot tall and a little wider at maturity when in bloom. Foliage is velvety and greenish white. Flowers bloom on short, branching spikes and are typically yellow with purple central markings. Popularly cultivated hybrid varietal 'Letitia' blooms over a longer period in summertime.

Verbascum hybridum (Hybrid Mullein)
This species grows well in zones 3-10 and 14-24, and most need to be grown from seed. Varieties are listed and described below.

'Banana Custard'
This biennial reaches 5-6 feet tall and 2 feet wide, with bright yellow flowers.

Benary & Cotswold Hybrids
These perennials come in white, cream, pink, and purple. Varieties 'Helen Johnson' (with peach pink flowers) and 'Pink Domino' (with bright pink flowers).

'Copper Rose'
Perennial that reaches 4-6 feet tall and 2 feet wide, and flowers come in buff, apricot, rose, or tan. Sow in late winter or early spring.

'Sierra Sunset'
This variety is perennial and forms foliage rosettes 8 inches tall and 3 feet wide, with downy leaves Flowers can be salmon, melon, and rose.

Verbascum lychnitis (White Mullein)
These plants, native to Asian and Europe, have naturalized in some areas of North America. They produce white or yellow flowers, and are biennials or short-lived perennials that typically colonize disturbed soils. Leaves are greyish green.

Verbascum nigrum (Black Mullein, Dark Mullein)
This species is native to dry, open areas in temperate Europe, and reaches between 1.6 and 4.9 feet tall when in bloom. Clumps of basal green leaves give rise to flowering stems that hold yellow flowers with purple stamens. Blooms are present for a long period in summer and early fall. This species is cultivated as an ornamental garden plant.

Verbascum olympicum (Greek Mullein, Olympian Mullein, Olympic Mullein)
This perennial grows well in zones 3-10 and 14-24 and is native to Greece and northwestern Turkey. It reaches about 5-7 feet tall and 3 feet wide, with soft white leaves and bright yellow flowers.

Verbascum phlomoides (Orange Mullein, Woolly Mullein, Clasping-Leaf Mullein)
This species is native to Europe and Asia Minor, and is a widespread weed in North America. They produce upright stalks of bright yellow flowers that remain through the summer season, and large green leaves that are also present up the height of the stems. These are great pollinator-attracting additions to garden landscapes.

Verbascum phoeniceum (Purple Mullein)
This species, native to central Europe, central Asia, and western China, is best when grown in zones 1-10 and 14-24, and is a perennial. It reaches 2-4 feet tall and 1.5 feet wide, and has dark green leaves and purple flowers. Variety 'Violetta' reaches 2-3 feet tall with deep purple flowers.

Verbascum sinuatum (Scallop-Leaved Mullein, Wavyleaf Mullein, Candela Regia)
These plants grow in the heavy soils in central Asia and the Mediterranean, and reach between 4 and 5 feet tall when mature and in bloom. Wintertime foliage rosettes give rise to flowering stems in springtime, which hold yellow flowers that remain on the plant from May through October.

Verbascum speciosum (Hungarian Mullein, Showy Mullein)
These plants are native to eastern Europe and western Asia, and are known in many other areas around the globe as roadside weeds. These are biennial herbaceous plants that produce large-leaved rosettes and stems topped with yellow flowers.

Verbascum thapsus (Great Mullein, Greater Mullein, Common Mullein)
This species is native to Europe, northern Africa, and Asia, and is an introduced species in the Americas and Australia. These hairy biennials reach over six and a half feet tall when in bloom, and produce yellow flowers with orange anthers. Take care when planting these in the garden, as they are considered invasive in many areas of North America.

Caring for Verbascum

Please note that Verbascum thapsus (Common mullein) is considered an invasive plant in 20 states, mostly on the western side of the United States. Plants produce a lot of seeds that can remain viable in soil for decades before germinating. Once established, these plants swiftly crowd out native species and can be quite difficult to remove. Check with local authorities before planting.

Plant Verbascum, or Mullein, in a space in the landscape that receives full sun. They like a dry, warm spot near walls or large trees that provide protection from strong winds. They appreciate a well-draining soil that is moderately fertile and has a pH of between 6.0 and 8.0 (slightly acidic to slightly alkaline). They grow in a wide variety of soil textures, and even do well in disturbed soils. If local soils are particularly poor in nutrients or do not drain well, make sure to amend the planting area with plenty of organic compost before installing. Apply a layer of mulch around the planting area to suppress weed growth, maintain consistent soil temperatures, and to increase soil moisture retention. Water new plantings regularly as they establish a strong root system in their new home. At maturity, Mullein plants are considered moderately drought-tolerant, able to get by for most of the year on rainwater alone. During growth and flowering periods in spring and summertime, make sure to provide irrigation during extended times of drought.

Fertilize yearly in early springtime with an application of 2 inches of compost around the base of plants. Pull mulch back before applying, work the compost gently into the soil a bit, water it in, and then replace mulch. These plants are not heavy feeders, and this should be sufficient to provide the necessary nutrients for the active growing and flowering seasons. Pruning is simple; remove any damaged, diseased, or dead foliage at any time during the growing season, and remove spent flower spikes to neaten up the appearance of plants and encourage reblooms.

Propagation

Verbascum, or Mullein, plants are best propagated via seed. Many species will freely reseed in the garden and quickly form large colonies. Seedlings that are unwanted an an area of the garden can simply be dug up and replanted when they are young. Because they grow from taproot, they typically don't like to be disturbed once established. To propagate your Verbascum plants by harvesting and sowing seeds, follow the directions below:

Propagating Verbascum by Seed

Keep in mind that the plant you get from seed will not necessarily mimic all of the characteristics of the parent plant. To propagate by seed, you will need a paper bag, a pot or tray filled with well-draining compost or other organic material, a spray bottle and a fork. If you don't have any potting medium on hand, you can make some. Just mix together equal parts (by volume) moss peat and horticultural-grade sand or grit sand. You will also, after a few weeks, need individual 3-inch pots for each seedling that grows.
Harvest your seeds. The seed heads on plants are pretty easy to spot, they're left behind after flowers have faded. Once they have dried out and begun to split open, you can harvest the seeds inside. Cut them off of the plant, placing them in a paper bag. Harvest as many as you can, and place the paper bag in a dry, cool, dark area. They will continue to split open and release the seeds contained inside. Once they have been released, take them out of the bag and put them in a container so you can work with them.
Get your container prepared. Water your prepared seed tray or pot filled with soil, and ensure that good drainage is occurring. Place your seeds in your prepared pot or seed tray about a quarter inch to a half-inch under the soil surface. Cover them with soil and water with your spray bottle. Place your tray of seeds in a warm area that receives bright, indirect light. A greenhouse is the most ideal climate, but a planting tray inside a window will do as well. Germination usually takes 2-6 weeks from sowing. Once you begin to see seedlings sprout and they are able to be handled, transplant them to their own individual 3-inch pots, filled with the same potting medium as described in Step 1. Loosen the seedlings from the potting medium by digging down with the tines of your fork about an inch and a half, gently working the seedling up until it is out. Then, replant the seedling in its individual pot.
Keep the seedling's potting medium moist, but not wet, by spraying the soil with your spray bottle. Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 65 and 72 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring (after the danger of frost has passed), when you can transplant it to its new home.