Varieties of Verbascum: Explore 15 Captivating Options for Vibrant Summer Spikes
In the world of gardening, mulleins, or Verbascum varieties, are architectural beauties that add a touch of elegance to any flower bed. These perennials and biennials are known for their impressive spires of yellow, peach, pink, or white flowers that bloom in summer.
One of the standout perennial mulleins is 'Pink Domino' (Cotswold Group), a plant that reaches a height of 4ft (1.2m) and produces rich rose-pink flowers in summer. Another perennial, 'Helen Johnson', produces attractive pink-copper flower spikes all summer above a rosette of wrinkly gray-green leaves.
For those seeking a shorter variety, 'Jackie' offers a compact solution with spires of apricot-pink flowers in summer. 'Gainsborough', another perennial form, carries candles of primrose yellow flowers above rosettes of gray-green leaves, but it's sterile, so it won't self-seed.
Biennial mulleins, such as Verbascum olympicum, produce tall candelabras of lemon flowers and thrive in very light soil in sun. Another biennial, Verbascum bombyciferum, is one of the stars in Beth Chatto's Gravel Garden in the UK, reaching a height of 7ft (2m).
Verbascum phlomoides 'Spica' is a perennial that produces spikes of ivory flowers above rosettes of downy silver-green leaves, creating enchanting vertical accents in the border. Verbascum phoeniceum 'Flush of White' is a biennial or short-lived perennial form that produces spires of pure-white flowers in early summer.
For 'Southern Charm', a cross between V. phoenicum and V. chaixii, seeds or root cuttings are the best methods of propagation. Verbascum chaixii 'Album' is a perennial mullein that produces upright candles of white flowers with purple bees in high summer.
Verbascum lychnitis is a biennial native to Europe that produces white (or yellow) flowers in mid to late summer. Verbascum creticum (syn. 'Cotswold King') is a self-seeding biennial that sends up spires of large, fragrant gold flowers with a central dark bee, above green leaves. 'Clementine' is an orange form of mullein that has apricot flowers with purple bees and blooms on spikes above a rosette of leaves.
Verbascum roripifolium, an unusual Greek biennial, forms a lightweight, delicate cloud of butter-yellow flowers on very thin stems.
To ensure the best growth for your mulleins, provide them with full sun exposure, well-drained soil that is poor or lean rather than rich, and protection from winter wetness. They thrive in dry, light soils resembling their native Mediterranean environment and prefer an open, sunny site such as a south-facing garden. Mulleins do not require support but can become floppy if grown in very fertile soil, which promotes excessive growth.
In conclusion, by growing mulleins in sunny, dry, well-drained soil with minimal fertility and protecting the root zone from excess moisture, especially in winter, you'll be supporting their natural growth habits and encouraging their characteristic tall flower spikes. Happy gardening!
References: [1] The Royal Horticultural Society. (n.d.). Verbascum. Retrieved from https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/25653/Verbascum [2] Garden Myths. (2020). The Truth About Mulleins: Growing Verbascum. Retrieved from https://www.gardenmyths.com/2020/05/the-truth-about-mulleins-growing-verbascum/ [3] The Spruce. (2021). Verbascum: How to Grow and Care for Mulleins. Retrieved from https://www.thespruce.com/growing-mulleins-1412674 [5] Gardener's World. (2021). How to Grow Verbascum: Tips on Growing Mullein. Retrieved from https://www.gardenersworld.com/plants/growing-mullein-how-to-grow-verbascum/
- Landscaping with a touch of elegance can be achieved by incorporating mulleins, or Verbascum varieties, into flower beds, as they add architectural beauty.
- In the realm of fashion-and-beauty and lifestyle, one might find inspiration in the impressive spires of colorful mullein flowers, blooming in summer gardens.
- For travelers exploring gardens around the world, the tall candelabras of lemon flowers from biennial mulleins, such as Verbascum olympicum, are a must-see attraction in certain European landscapes.
- In the pursuit of education-and-self-development, keen gardeners can expand their knowledge by reading up on the care and cultivation of exotic mullein varieties, such as the lightweight, delicate Verbascum roripifolium from Greece.
