Green Guide: Ornamental mullein

'Jackie in Pink' Photo: Beth Willis

Ornamental mullein, the common name for a number of Verbascum hybrids, can be a charming addition to the garden. Although most are either biennials or short-lived perennials, they are remarkably low-maintenance plants with a long season of bloom if you keep just a few things in mind while siting them.

Ornamental mullein has an upright vertical form, with tall flower spikes rising from a basal rosette of woolly gray-green leaves. Available in colors ranging from pure white to pinks, peaches, yellows and lavenders, there is a color to fit just about any garden. Spikes bloom from top to bottom with large, flat five-petaled flowers. Fuzzy purple or dark-pink stamens (in most varieties) add to the appeal. Blooming begins in late spring and continues through late summer or even into autumn depending on the variety.

In the landscape
Ornamental mullein thrives in full sun in USDA Hardiness Zones 5-8. It is susceptible to root rot if drainage is not adequate, but it is not picky about soil type as long as it’s given good drainage. It’s well suited to the sandy or rocky soils found in rock gardens. It also works well in borders or cottage gardens with more fertile soils. It has no serious disease or pest problems and has few maintenance needs, but deadheading spent flower spikes can help prolong blooming. Ornamental mullein can be propagated by root cuttings from late winter to early spring.

Some cultivars
In the last decade, a number of ornamental hybrid cultivars have been introduced. These hybrids offer new flower colors and color combinations, shorter plant sizes and larger blooms. ‘Southern Charm,’ a soothing blend of creamy yellows, lavenders and peachy pinks, grows to a height of 2-2½ feet in the garden.  ‘Caribbean Crush’ can grow up to 4 feet high and boasts a bright blend of tropical yellows, oranges and lavenders on individual plants. ‘Jackie in Pink’ and ‘Jackie in Yellow’ are compact varieties (heights to 18 inches) that will even work well in containers. ‘Sixteen Candles’ and ‘Wedding Candles,’ with profuse blooms of yellow and white respectively, will reach a height of 3-3½ feet in the garden.
 

— Beth Willis, University of Tennessee Gardens