Guide to growing Mullein - Verbascum

Verbascum may be hardy perennial, half hardy perennials or hardy biennials.

Verbascum reach from 30cm to 1.5M in height.

They have downy leaves and bloom in the summer when they carry yellow flowers on a spike.

A common name for garden grown Verbascum is Mullein.

How to grow Mullein

When growing mullein outdoors from seed it is bet to sow in late summer or just before the last frost of spring, lightly cover the mullein seed once sown. The spacing at which to plant Verbascum is dependent upon their size, plant small Verbascum with a spacing of 30 to 40cm and large varieties 90cm apart or individually. Ideally Mullein and other Verbascum should be grown in a sunny part of the garden that has a soil that is slightly alkaline and dry.

If starting off indoors then sow Mullein seeds about 7 or 8 weeks in advance . The germination time of Verbascum seeds is about two or three weeks at 12 to 15 degrees centigrade. Once ready transplant the young Verbascum seedlings outdoors either at the end of summer of just after the last frost of spring.

Caring for Mullein

It is quite easy to look after Verbascum species such as Mullein; they require a mulch in the winter for protection; once flowering has finished cut back the stem. If you require more plants then propagate mullein by taking cuttings from the roots in the spring.