Home » Plants & Animals » Perennials » The Millenium Mullein - Page 3

The Millenium Mullein - Page 3

© Jojo

Pictures of these hybrids can be perused at Plant Growers Australia. For additional information about propagating the sterile hybrids, see Plant Profile - Verbascum: Pure Indulgence.

Verbascum laciniatum Biennial
A mullein with a small distribution in South Western Spain.
Picture a closeup of the flowers from Flora of Europe..

Verbascum lanatum Perennial or Biennial
Very white and woolly, especially on the undersides of the leaves. Grows to 4 feet tall. Petals are a dull yellow. Sexual filaments are purple. From Central Europe.

Verbascum longifolium Perennial or Biennial
As the latin name suggests, this mullein has very long leaves, some up to 2 feet long. Multi-branched spikes to 4 feet tall, with bright yellow petals. Largest flowered of all mulleins. From Southern Europe.

Var. pannosum has even larger flowers, and is more woolly.

Verbascum lychnitis Biennial
AKA White Mullein, this one grows to only 3 feet tall. It bears very nice white flowers on strong stems. From Central and Western Europe.

Verbascum olympicum Biennial
Very woolly, to 5 feet tall. Multi-branched flower spikes bear yellow flowers. From Greece.

Verbascum paniculatum Biennial
Grey, as opposed to white, wool, gives this mullein a slightly dirty look. It's flowers are stunning. Each is yellow, 1/2 inch across, and has 3 purple stamens in each centre. From South Caucasus.

'Album' is a listed cultivar, with white flowers and a hairier leaf surface.

Verbascum phlomoides Biennial
With leaves resembling a Phlomis (Jerusalem Sage) in youth, but much woollier with age. Petals are yellow, filaments are purple and very fuzzy. From Central and Southern Europe. Naturalized in the Eastern U.S.A.

Picture from Kohler's Medicinal Plants

Verbascum phoeniceum Perennial
Young seedlings bear 2 foot tall flower spikes in their first few years, but once mature, these truly perennial mulleins can reach 5 to 6 feet. Leaves are plain green, with little or no wool. Flowers range in colour from white with a beautiful purple centre, to salmon pink, reddish-bronze to deep purple. From South East Europe, and Asia.

Picture of flowers from Flora of Europe

Verbascum speciosum Biennial
To 6 feet tall, with plain green leaves that clasp the stems all the way around. Flowers are borne in clusters on the spike. The petals are yellow, and the stamens are very very woolly. From South East Europe, Asia Minor and Caucasus. Naturalized in the U.S. in old, dry fields.

Verbascum thapsiforme Biennial
To 6 feet tall. Much like Thapsus except for that the flower spikes are more slender and less densely flowered. From Europe.

Verbascum Thapsus Biennial
To 6 feet tall, with woolly stems, leaves and buds. Flowers open to a clear yellow. The most common and most weedy of all the mulleins. This one is from Europe but is now naturalizing all over the world.

The copyright of the article The Millenium Mullein - Page 3 in Perennials is owned by Jojo. Permission to republish The Millenium Mullein - Page 3 in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.