Verbascum 'Helen Johnson'
mullein 'Helen Johnson'
'Helen Johnson' is a rather short-lived herbaceous perennial up to 90cm high with evergreen rosettes of downy, wrinkled, grey-green, pointed leaves, up to 20cm long, and branched spikes up to 45cm long of soft coppery pink-orange-brown flowers, each 3cm across, with purple and orange stamens, in a long flowering period from early to late summer; wool carder bees may collect hairs from stems and leaves for their nests
Size
Ultimate height
0.5–1 metresTime to ultimate height
1–2 yearsUltimate spread
0.1–0.5 metresGrowing conditions
Moisture
Well–drainedpH
Alkaline, NeutralColour & scent
| Stem | Flower | Foliage | Fruit | |
| Spring | Green Grey Silver | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer | Green Grey Silver | Orange Purple Brown Pink | Green Grey Silver | |
| Autumn | Green Grey Silver | |||
| Winter | Green Grey Silver |
Position
- Full sun
Aspect
West–facing or South–facing
Exposure
ShelteredDrought resistance
Yes Hardiness
H6Botanical details
- Family
- Scrophulariaceae
- Native to the UK
- No
- Foliage
- Evergreen
- Habit
- Columnar upright
- Genus
Verbascum can be annuals, biennials, perennials or subshrubs mostly with hairy leaves and 5-petalled, saucer-shaped flowers
- Name status
Accepted
How to grow
Cultivation
Grow in full sun in light, non-acidic, well-drained soil: will tolerate shallow chalky soils, dry soils, and poor soils, but will need staking in richer soils, and will not tolerate wet soils
Propagation
Propagate by root cuttings in late winter; because it is rather short-lived, propagate new plants regularly
Suggested planting locations and garden types
- Coastal
- Cottage and informal garden
- Gravel garden
- Flower borders and beds
- Wall side borders
Pruning
No pruning required except deadheading the flowering stem
Pests
Generally pest-free but may be susceptible to figwort weevil and mullein moth
Diseases
May be affected by powdery mildews
Get involved
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