Verbascum 'Helen Johnson'

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mullein 'Helen Johnson'

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mullein 'Helen Johnson' RHS
mullein 'Helen Johnson' RHS
mullein 'Helen Johnson' RHS / Joanna Kossak
Herbaceous Perennial
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A rather short-lived, herbaceous perennial up to 90cm high, with evergreen rosettes of downy, wrinkled, grey-green, pointed leaves, up to 20cm long. Branched spikes, up to 45cm in height, of soft, coppery pink-orange-brown flowers, each 3cm across with purple and orange stamens, appear over a long flowering period from early to late summer

Position

Full sun

Soil Types

Chalk, Loam, Sand

Max Height

0.5-1 metres

Max Spread

0.1-0.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity
1–2 years
Max Spread
0.1-0.5 metres
Max Height
0.5-1 metres

Growing Conditions

Chalk Loam Sand
Moisture
Well–drained
pH
Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun
Aspect
West–facing or South–facing
Exposure
Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

  • H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
  • H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
  • H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
  • H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
  • H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
  • H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
  • H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
  • H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
  • H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)
H6
Drought Resistance
Yes

Colour & Scent

Season Stem Flower Foliage Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family
Scrophulariaceae
Native to GB/Ireland
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 susceptible to Powdery mildews