Scientific Name:
Verbascum thapsus
Pronunciation:
vur-BASS-kum THAP-sus
Common Name:
mullein
Family Name:
Scrophulariaceae
Plant Type:
Biennial, Invasive plant
Key ID Features:
Leaves oblanceolate, margins round-toothed to entire, up to 45cm long, in basal rosette; florets yellow, up to 3cm wide, in spike-like inflorescence up to 50cm long.
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Habit:
Upright
Form:
Columnar
Texture:
Coarse
Mature Height:
1.3 - 2.0m
Mature Spread:
0.3 - 0.6m
Origin:
Europe
Hardiness Rating:
Zone 4: (-34 to -29 °C)
Exposure:
Full sun, Part sun/part shade, Filtered shade
Soil/Growing Medium:
Rocky or gravelly or dry, Well-drained
Landscape Uses:
Attract beneficial insects, Medicinal plant, Perennial border
Additional Info:
Google. Compare to V. eriophorum.
Leaf Morphology:
Form:
Simple
Arrangement:
Alternate, Basal
Texture/Venation:
Succulent, Heavily veined
Surfaces:
Pubescent
Colour in Summer:
Green, Silver / Grayish
Colour in Fall:
Yellow, Brown
Shapes:
Oblanceolate, Obovate
Apices:
Acute
Bases:
Sheathing
Margins:
Crenate
Additional Info:
The alternate leaves form on the peduncle in the second year and may be ovate to elliptic.
Inflorescence Type:
Spike
Flower Morphology:
Flowers perfect
Number Of Petals:
5
Corolla Shape:
Campanulate
Ovary Position:
Superior
Colour (petals):
Yellow
Flower Time at Peak:
Jul, Aug
Additional Info:
biennial
Fruit Type:
Capsule
Fruit Colour:
Brown
Fruiting Time:
Sep, Oct
Additional Info:
Not showy,
Bark or Stem Colour:
Organ Modifications:
Storage tap root
Pest Susceptibility:
Aphids or adelgids (Deer resistant, Rabbit resistant, Drought tolerant)
Specific Pests:
