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Herbaceous Perennial

Verbascum 'Rosie'

mullein 'Rosie'

A rosette-forming semi-evergreen which can be grown as a biennial or short-lived perennial with wrinkled, dark green leaves. Purple-red buds open to white flowers flushed with purple and red in late spring to early summer

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Size
Ultimate height
0.5–1 metres
Time to ultimate height
2–5 years
Ultimate spread
0.5–1 metres
Growing conditions
Chalk
Loam
Sand
Moisture
Well–drained
pH
Alkaline, Neutral
Colour & scent
StemFlowerFoliageFruit
Spring White Red Purple Green
Summer White Red Purple Green
Autumn White Red Purple Green
Winter
Position
  • Full sun
Aspect

South–facing or West–facing

Exposure
Sheltered
Hardiness
H6
Botanical details
Family
Scrophulariaceae
Native to GB / Ireland
No
Foliage
Semi 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
  • City and courtyard gardens
  • Coastal
  • Gravel garden
  • Cottage and informal garden
  • Mediterranean climate plants
  • Flower borders and beds
  • Wall side borders
Pruning

Deadhead the flowering stem

Pests

May be susceptible to figwort weevil and by mullein moth but generally pest-free

Diseases

May be susceptible to powdery mildews

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