Verbascum

The genus Mullein, or Verbascum, has approximately 300 species - herbaceous and semi-shrubby biennial and perennial resistant plants, most of them are xerophytes, that is, adapted to life in arid conditions. They are characterized by erect peduncles; the leaves are covered with a thick white fluff. Beautiful flat, consisting of 5 petals and long stamens in the center of the flowers are collected in simple or branching terminal racemes spikelike or paniculate inflorescences. Some types are suitable for rock gardens, others for the design of flower beds and borders. Perfect fit for rock gardens, the following perennial low-growing species. Verbascum dumulosum (Verbascum dumulosum) is a semi-shrub species; its oval pubescent leaves are colored olive-green. In June-July, light yellow flowers with a purple core collected in brushes 10 cm long bloom. Prickly mullein (V. spinosum) is a low semi-shrubby species characterized by lignified stems and prickly toothed lanceolate dark green leaves. In June, yellow flowers appear in long racemes. The hybrid Verbascum x 'Leticia' was obtained from these two perennial species. This is a compact plant branching from the base. Pubescent lanceolate leaves are dark olive-green in color. In summer, bright yellow flowers bloom, collected in a 10 cm long brush. For borders and flowerbeds, it is recommended to grow the following types. Mullein spring (V. vernale) - a perennial with a height of 1.2 m. Oval-shaped dark green leaves with a serrated edge have pronounced veins. On succulent flower-bearing shoots in July-August, long (60-80 cm) panicles of yellow flowers with purple pharynx and stamens are formed. The White variety has white flowers with a purple core. The most popular hybrid mullein (V. x hybridum) is a perennial shrub with a height of 1.0-1.5 m. The leaves are dark green oval, tapering to the ends, slightly pubescent. Flowers are collected in a complex raceme inflorescence, color of flowers from pink to carmine-red and bronze. Blooms in the middle of summer. Black mullein (V. nigrum) is another perennial but short-lived species with a height of 60-100 cm. The leaves are ovate-elongated, lower petiolate, sessile with a toothed edge, dark green, densely pubescent below. Yellow small flowers with a red spot in the center are collected in long (50-60 cm) panicles or brushes, blooming throughout the summer. Purple mullein (V. phoeniceum) is one of the most beautiful species, a two-year-old with a height of 80-100 cm. This root-spreading plant forms a rosette of slightly pubescent dark green leaves. In summer, rare clusters of purple flowers of various shades are formed on the peduncles. Common mullein, or bear's ear (V. thapsus), is a biennial species up to 2 m tall. Its oblong leaves have a serrated edge. In late June - early August, light yellow flowers are formed on long peduncles collected in dense brushes.

The genus Mullein, or Verbascum, has approximately 300 species - herbaceous and semi-shrubby biennial and perennial resistant plants, most of them are xerophytes, that is, adapted to life in arid conditions. They are characterized by erect peduncles; the leaves are covered with a thick white fluff. Beautiful flat, consisting of 5 petals and long stamens in the center of the flowers are collected in simple or branching terminal racemes spikelike or paniculate inflorescences. Some types are suitable for rock gardens, others for the design of flower beds and borders. Perfect fit for rock gardens, the following perennial low-growing species.

Verbascum dumulosum (Verbascum dumulosum) is a semi-shrub species; its oval pubescent leaves are colored olive-green. In June-July, light yellow flowers with a purple core collected in brushes 10 cm long bloom.

Prickly mullein (V. spinosum) is a low semi-shrubby species characterized by lignified stems and prickly toothed lanceolate dark green leaves. In June, yellow flowers appear in long racemes.

The hybrid Verbascum x 'Leticia' was obtained from these two perennial species. This is a compact plant branching from the base. Pubescent lanceolate leaves are dark olive-green in color. In summer, bright yellow flowers bloom, collected in a 10 cm long brush.

For borders and flowerbeds, it is recommended to grow the following types.

Mullein spring (V. vernale) - a perennial with a height of 1.2 m. Oval-shaped dark green leaves with a serrated edge have pronounced veins. On succulent flower-bearing shoots in July-August, long (60-80 cm) panicles of yellow flowers with purple pharynx and stamens are formed. The White variety has white flowers with a purple core.

The most popular hybrid mullein (V. x hybridum) is a perennial shrub with a height of 1.0-1.5 m. The leaves are dark green oval, tapering to the ends, slightly pubescent. Flowers are collected in a complex raceme inflorescence, color of flowers from pink to carmine-red and bronze. Blooms in the middle of summer.

Black mullein (V. nigrum) is another perennial but short-lived species with a height of 60-100 cm. The leaves are ovate-elongated, lower petiolate, sessile with a toothed edge, dark green, densely pubescent below. Yellow small flowers with a red spot in the center are collected in long (50-60 cm) panicles or brushes, blooming throughout the summer.

Purple mullein (V. phoeniceum) is one of the most beautiful species, a two-year-old with a height of 80-100 cm. This root-spreading plant forms a rosette of slightly pubescent dark green leaves. In summer, rare clusters of purple flowers of various shades are formed on the peduncles.

Common mullein, or bear's ear (V. thapsus), is a biennial species up to 2 m tall. Its oblong leaves have a serrated edge. In late June - early August, light yellow flowers are formed on long peduncles collected in dense brushes.

Cultivation

Mullein is grown in the open ground as a beautiful flowering plant. Species for rock gardens are planted in a permanent place in March-April, and for flower beds and borders-you can also in the fall. It grows well in non-moist, non-heavy soils. In some cases, young plants need support. During planting, it is recommended to apply organic fertilizers to the soil. It doesn't tolerate transplants very well. The aboveground part of most species dies off after flowering. Removing faded inflorescences promotes the early laying of new buds, which prolongs the life of the plant.

Location

Plants prefer a place in the open sun.

Temperature

Not capricious, only some species and hybrids, such as Verbascum dumulosum, Verbascum x 'Leticia' and mullein prickly, require shelter in winter, but rather because of humidity than because of low temperature.

Watering

In the spring and summer period, they are watered regularly, while in winter they are watered minimally.

Care

After the inflorescences wither, they should be cut off. This operation promotes the development of other flowers. In November, for species grown in flower beds and borders, the stems are cut off completely, at the root.

Reproduction

Semi-shrub species for rock gardens and varieties are propagated by cuttings. In the period from May to the end of July, semi-lignified cuttings about 5 cm long are taken and placed in a mixture of sand and peat (1:1) in a closed, unheated room. After root formation, they are unpicked singly into a mixture of fertile land (50%) and peat (50%) with the addition of a small amount of coarse-grained sand. Seedlings can be planted finally in the spring. Perennial (long-lived) species can be propagated every 2-3 years in the spring by dividing the bush. Species grown in flower beds and borders are also propagated by seed in April. When sowing seeds, hybrids may lose the properties characteristic of the parent plant. Therefore, in February and March, take root cuttings 10 cm long and plant in the ground, which is a mixture of sand and peat, in a cool place. When the third or fourth leaf appears, the cuttings are placed singly in pots, and they are planted in a permanent place next autumn.

Semi-shrub species for rock gardens and varieties are propagated by cuttings. In the period from May to the end of July, semi-lignified cuttings about 5 cm long are taken and placed in a mixture of sand and peat (1:1) in a closed, unheated room. After root formation, they are unpicked singly into a mixture of fertile land (50%) and peat (50%) with the addition of a small amount of coarse-grained sand. Seedlings can be planted finally in the spring.

Perennial (long-lived) species can be propagated every 2-3 years in the spring by dividing the bush. Species grown in flower beds and borders are also propagated by seed in April.

When sowing seeds, hybrids may lose the properties characteristic of the parent plant. Therefore, in February and March, take root cuttings 10 cm long and plant in the ground, which is a mixture of sand and peat, in a cool place. When the third or fourth leaf appears, the cuttings are placed singly in pots, and they are planted in a permanent place next autumn.

Diseases

In dry and hot climates, mullein is attacked by ticks. For example, a spider mite causes discolored spots on the leaves - at first these are specks that gradually increase in size and merge together. In addition, "cobwebs" appear on the underside of the leaves. This pest is controlled with acaricides.

Acquisition

Buy seeds (you need to make sure that they are not old) or seedlings in cups or cellular containers. This is usually done in the spring, when you can immediately plant the crop in the ground. Choose well-formed seedlings, making sure that it is completely healthy.