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Annual Biennial

Verbascum thapsus
  • RHS Plants for pollinators

great mullein

Tall grey or white-woolly biennial up to 2m in height, forming a rosette of large mid-green leaves to 50cm long in its first year, with a stout, upright, woolly stem bearing a succession of light yellow, saucer-shaped flowers 3cm across in the summer of the second year

Other common names
Aaron's rod
ag leaf
see morebeggar's blanket
blanket leaf
bullock's lungwort
candlewick
clown's lungwort
common mullein
cow's lungwort
duffle
feltwort
flannel
flannel leaf
flannel plant
fluffweed
hag taper
hag's taper
hare's beard
hedge taper
high taper
Jupiter's staff
king's taper
lady's candles
lady's foxglove
light of the Lord
lucernaria
mullein dock
old man's flannel
rag paper
shepherd's club
torch lily
torches
velvet dock
velvet plant
white mullein
woollens
woundweed
Adam's flannel
felt
Jacob's staff
lamb's wool
velvet leaf
Buy this plant
Size
Ultimate height
1.5–2.5 metres
Time to ultimate height
2–5 years
Ultimate spread
0.1–0.5 metres
Growing conditions
Chalk
Loam
Sand
Moisture
Well–drained
pH
Alkaline
Colour & scent
StemFlowerFoliageFruit
Spring Grey Silver Green
Summer Yellow Grey Silver Green
Autumn Grey Silver Green
Winter
Position
  • Full sun
Aspect

East–facing or South–facing or West–facing

Exposure
Sheltered
Hardiness
H6
Botanical details
Family
Scrophulariaceae
Native to GB / Ireland
Yes
Foliage
Deciduous
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
Eurasia

How to grow

Cultivation

Suitable for herbaceous border and gravel garden. Grow in poor alkaline well-drained soil in full sun

Propagation

Propagate by seed or division in spring

Suggested planting locations and garden types
  • Cottage and informal garden
  • Wildlife gardens
  • Wildflower meadow
  • Flower borders and beds
Pruning

No pruning required

Pests

May be susceptible to caterpillars and figwort weevil

Diseases

May be susceptible to powdery mildews

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