I Love Verbascum Chaixii

Feb 5, 2016 | Love This!

Name:  Verbascum chaixii aka nettle-leaved mullein

Type of Plant:  A biennial that sometimes only lasts a year and other times might live three years, this plant self-seeds around the garden. The straight species has spires of yellow flowers, and the variety ‘Album’ has white blossoms…both have purple stamens which add to the charm of the plant.

Why I love This:  I love this biennial because in June it adds some upright, exclamation points to the garden. It’s a great cut flower and the bees love it. I also love how it travels around my gardens dependably but not invasively. Verbascum species do well in rocky or sandy soils and dry areas, so use them in gardens that you don’t irrigate frequently or to add height to a rock garden. They are also perfect for cottage-style flower gardens.

A Word to the Wise:  Don’t plant this if you don’t like working in the perennial bed. You’ll need to edit out seedlings and plants that are in the wrong place, remove plants that are growing inside another perennial, and cut down most of the stalks when they start to form seeds. You’ll want to remove most of the seed-stalks because otherwise you’ll have too many in future years, and besides the seed-stalks aren’t attractive in the garden. I will commonly leave one of the most branched and full plants to go to seed but cut away all the rest. Once you have this plant you’ll always have it popping up, so plant this with your eyes open.

Note: You’ll want to grow this Verbascum from seed as it is seldom found in garden centers

In the light of the setting sun the flowers become more golden and the stamens more purple. This flower is even more interesting when viewed up close.

In the light of the setting sun the flowers become more golden and the stamens more purple. This flower is even more interesting when viewed up close.

When in full bloom this Verbascum adds upright elements to a garden. It is possible for there to be too many.

When in full bloom this Verbascum adds upright elements to a garden. It is possible for there to be too many.

All types of bees love Verbascum, so it's a good plant for attracting pollinators and supporting honey bees.

All types of bees love Verbascum, so it’s a good plant for attracting pollinators and supporting honey bees.

3 Comments

  1. TerryGL

    What a gorgeous flower. I remember finding one like this many years ago in a field near my home, and didn’t know what it was at the time until a botanist identified it for me.

    Reply
  2. Janet M Logan

    CL .. Would I have flowers like this this summer if I buy seeds now and plant them after the ground thaws? Where can I buy these seeds? I checked the Burpee catelog and only found the white variety. These are so beautiful!!

    Reply
    • CL Fornari

      Janet – you might have to go to one of the specialty nurseries for these seeds… or remind me later in the summer and I’ll send you some!

      Reply

Leave a Reply to TerryGL Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Don`t copy text!

Pin It on Pinterest

Share This