MULLEIN
Family SCROPHULARIACEAE
Verbascum species
Perennial
A genus of numerous species from Europe and the
Mediterranean region.
There are many that are useful for the flower
garden, the following being the most usually cultivated.
Verbascum nigrum (syn. Verbascum vernale), Britain, has long,
broad leaves of felt-like texture, greyish-green
in colour and well over a foot long.
The stem attains three to four feet, and the
upper portion consists of a number of ascending
branches bearing closely together small yellow
flowers, each with a purple centre.
Verbascum chaixii, the Nettle-leaved Mullein,
has foliage six inches long, green covered with
white tomentum; the flowers are yellow, with purple
stamens and borne in racemes, three feet tall.
There is a white form. Verbascum longifolium has
huge leaves, two feet long, attains four feet,
and bears bright yellow flowers, an inch across,
in a dense raceme.
Easily grown in good, well-drained soil where
lime is present and with a position in full sun.
Propagate by root cuttings or from seed.
The flowering season is in June and July.
See also : Mullein
|
