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Annual BiennialHerbaceous Perennial

Verbascum 'Christo's Yellow Lightning'

mullein 'Christo's Yellow Lightning'

A vigorous, upright biennial or short-lived perennial, with a rosette of long, wavy-edged, silver-grey leaves at the base, and leaves alternating part-way up the stem and decreasing in length. Produces large, branching spikes of butter yellow, saucer-shaped flowers in summer

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Size
Ultimate height
1–1.5 metres
Time to ultimate height
2–5 years
Ultimate spread
0.5–1 metres
Growing conditions
Chalk
Loam
Moisture
Well–drained
pH
Alkaline, Neutral
Colour & scent
StemFlowerFoliageFruit
Spring Green Grey Silver
Summer Yellow Green Grey Silver
Autumn Green Grey Silver
Winter
Position
  • Full sun
Aspect

South–facing or West–facing

Exposure
Exposed or Sheltered
Hardiness
H6
Botanical details
Family
Scrophulariaceae
Native to GB / Ireland
No
Foliage
Deciduous
Habit
Columnar upright
Genus

Verbascum can be annuals, biennials, perennials or subshrubs mostly with hairy leaves and 5-petalled, saucer-shaped flowers

Name status

Accepted

How to grow

Cultivation

Grows best in poor, slightly alkaline soils in full sun

Propagation

Propagate by seed

Suggested planting locations and garden types
  • Architectural
  • Cottage and informal garden
  • Flower borders and beds
  • Wall side borders
Pruning

Remove flower spikes when faded

Pests

May be susceptible to moth caterpillars and figwort weevil

Diseases

May be susceptible to powdery mildews, though this cultivar has some resistance

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