Verbascum 'Helen Johnson'

mullein

size: 2 litre pot

available to order from spring 2012

£7.49

pot size guide

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• Position: Full sun
• Soil: poor, well-drained, alkaline soil
• Rate of growth: average
• Flowering period: July to August
• Flower colour: brownish-pink
• Hardiness: fully hardy
  
  Erect spires of saucer-shaped, brownish-pink flowers with purple centres from May to August above rosettes of grey-green leaves A comparatively recent introduction, this brownish-pink verbascum is valued for its neat habit. Perfect for the middle of a sunny border or cottage garden it prefers poor, well-drained, alkaline soils.
  
  
• Garden care: Mullein moth caterpillars can be a problem: pick off the insects in early June as soon as they appear. Remove faded flower-spikes. Apply a thick 5-7cm mulch around the base of the plant in early spring.
  
  It is worth keeping in mind that these plants are mainly biennial, so although they usually self-seed freely, the plant will only live for two years.