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Verbascums are related to foxgloves — in fact, they are part of the same family and the resemblance is clear. Unusually for wild plants, both of them are garden-worthy, often finding their own way into gardens.
Just like foxglove, the verbascums form a rosette of large, broad leaves and in late spring and early summer, send up a strong, upright, tall flower stem. The verbascum flower-heads have branches, while the foxglove rarely does. Verbascum carries as many flowers on a single large branching stem as the foxglove does on its multiple stems.
The verbascum flower stem is about the same height in most cases, but can tower to three metres when a big plant develops. Though related, the flowers of verbascum are not tube-like the way the foxgloves are, but are more open and flat, or slightly ruffed.
It is not strange to sometimes see wild verbascum, also called mullein, growing with foxglove on recently disturbed ground, especially at the edges of sand-pits and road cuttings. Foxglove is very common after forest clearing, but the mullein not so, as it favours sandy, more open ground.
Mullein is quite common and plants sometimes pop up in a garden, not deliberately sown and create a curiosity. It is often left to grow, as people often think it must be a cultivated plant. And it is undoubtedly beautiful.
But the foreign cousins of the native mullein are even more beautiful. Some of these are two-year biennial plants like the wild mullein and some species are longer-lived, flowering each year. One of the best, Verbascum bombyciferum, make a large rosette of bright, silver, woolly leaves one year and follows with a silver furry flower spike with bright yellow flowers, sometimes to three metres tall, though usually two metres.
It is a very striking plant. Although each plant dies after flowering, it self-sows by shedding its seeds and new plants appear readily, often in very appealing places. This plant is from Turkey and it is a common evolutionary adaptation of plants in hot climates to produce woolly white hairs to ward off the hot sunshine and reduce moisture loss due to wind exposure.
The very similar Verbascum olympicum is from Greece and, if anything, is even more white and silvery than the Turkish kind. It forms a taller plant, lighter in structure. It is short-lived also, sometimes taking two or three years to make the large flower.
The upright shape of these verbascums is very attractive. They make a great contrast with the low rounded shapes of most plants. The soft but bright yellow of the flowers is very pretty and in perfect combination with the grey-green or silver stems.
The flowering goes on successively for many months. The tall shapes not only look well during the day, but they can be most atmospheric in the late evening and twilight, in silhouette, and because of their pale colouration.
The nettle-leaved mullein, Verbascum chaixii, is more reliably perennial than the bigger kinds mentioned, but it is smaller with grey-green leaves and its flower spires that are much more narrow, in bigger numbers and with more flowers open at once. It is yellow-flowered and there is a very beautiful white-flowered form with mauve centres. The purple mullein, Verbascum phoeniceum, has purple or pink flowers, and is about half the height, with more dainty, slender spikes of very pretty purple flowers. This species is easily grown from seeds.
If planted with the big silvery kinds, it crosses and creates plants with beautiful flowers in shades of peach, pink and pale brown. These species and the taller kinds have been hybridised by nursery people to give a range of named varieties, such as ‘Helen Johnson’, which is pink to pale brown and ‘Pink Petticoats,’ which is peachy-pink.
Like their wild cousins, these verbascums like well-drained soil in full sunshine. The soil should not be too dry or impoverished, because the plants will be stunted and not reach full height or maximum flowering.But, if the ground is heavy or wet, the rosettes can rot in winter.
Winter cabbage, cauliflower and purple sprouting broccoli can be planted out now. All can be planted into tilled soil, well-fertilised and firm. These plants like a firm seedbed in which to grow. Be sure to use good healthy plants, lifted and planted again at the new spacings right away. Or, if you are buying plants, make sure that they have not been set back in their pots by sitting on the sales bench for too long, especially if they have a purple colour or older leaves are yellow. These winter brassica crops can be attacked by caterpillars of the white butterfly. In rural areas, there is a likelihood that pigeons will attack at some stage, particularly in winter when other food gets scarce.
Fruit, vegetables and herbs
Peas could still be sown, but are unlikely to give much unless weather conditions suit them. Spinach does better in late summer. A late crop of carrots could be sown, as could the salad vegetables that mature quickly. Harvest herbs for winter use as they come ready by drying or freezing.
Lawns
After the dry spell in April and May, waves of heavy showers restored growth and vigour to lawns. Continue mowing lawns regularly and feed them if the grass looks pale. If weeds are a problem, apply a lawn weedkiller during a fine spell when growth is active. Do not use weedkiller on wildflower lawns.
Trees, shrubs and roses
Young trees and shrubs, especially bare-root kinds, often take a while to settle in. Even a few dry days after rain, some plants can begin to suffer if they have not made good root growth. Early-flowering shrub roses and ramblers that have now finished could be pruned and the new growth tied into position.
Flowers
Bedding plants in pots and baskets need regular watering and feeding. Remove seed heads of flowers that self-sow, such as foxgloves and alchemilla, if this is not wanted. Seeds of perennial flowers such as lupins, tickseed, mallows and foxgloves can be sown now for flowering next year.
Greenhouse and house plants
Continue to train and side-shoot tomatoes and cucumbers. Continue watering and feeding all greenhouse plants to maintain strong growth, especially when grown in pots. Take cuttings of deciduous shrubs of all kinds – especially roses and clematis. Pot house plants as necessary, if not already done.
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