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Herbaceous Perennial

Verbascum nigrum

dark mullein

A rosette-forming, deciduous or semi-evergreen perennial about 90cm tall, with scalloped, long-stalked, mid to dark green leaves, slightly grey-woolly beneath, making basal clumps that produce slender racemes of warm yellow flowers with purple stamens at their centres, from midsummer to early autumn

Other common names

black-rooted mullein
tall mullein

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Ultimate height

0.5–1 metres

Time to ultimate height

1–2 years

Ultimate spread

0.5–1 metres

Chalk

Loam

Sand

Moisture

Well–drained

pH

Alkaline, Neutral

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Full sun

Aspect

South–facing or West–facing or East–facing

Exposure

Exposed or 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)

Botanical details

Family: Scrophulariaceae
Native to GB / Ireland: Yes
Foliage: Deciduous or Semi evergreen
Habit: Clump forming
Genus: Verbascum can be annuals, biennials, perennials or subshrubs mostly with hairy leaves and 5-petalled, saucer-shaped flowers
Name status: Correct
Plant range: Europe, Asia

How to grow

Cultivation

Usually found on calcareous, free-draining sites or disturbed ground in a sunny location. Mulleins are beneficial to wildlife as a pollen and nectar source when in flower, seeds are a food source for birds and in winter hollow stems act as a refuge for insects

Propagation

Propagate by seed or by root cuttings in winter

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Wildlife gardens
Wildflower meadow
Cottage and informal garden

Pruning

No pruning required

Pests

May be susceptible to mullein moth

Diseases

Generally disease-free

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