Verbascum: Uses (Ethnobotany)
Verbascum flowers have been used in traditional Austrian medicine internally as a tea or externally for the treatment of disorders of the respiratory tract, skin, veins, gastrointestinal tract, and the locomotor system.
Plant Profile: Verbascum
Taxonomy: VerbascumNames
Beggar's Blanket, Mullein, Old Man's Flannel
Phonetic Spelling:ver-BASK-um
Genus:Verbascum
Species:
Family:Scrophulariaceae
Mulleins are striking plants that can be classified as annuals, biennials, or short-lived perennials, characterized by their tall flower spikes and large, woolly leaves arranged in a basal rosette. They thrive in dry to moderately fertile garden soil, provided it has excellent drainage. It's important not to over-fertilize them, as they prefer less nutrient-rich conditions. These plants contribute vertical interest to flower gardens and will self-seed if a few blooms are left intact. Some varieties may be invasive, but their self-seeding nature ensures that once established, they will persist in the garden for years. If you wish to cultivate more plants, delay mulching until late summer or fall; applying a 2-inch layer of mulch too early can inhibit the germination of fallen seeds.
After the flowers have wilted, trim the flower spike at its base to prolong the blooming period and reduce self-seeding.
Mulleins possess deep taproots, enabling them to adapt to various soil types, including gravel and clay. However, good drainage is crucial; avoid planting them in areas prone to standing water.
These plants flourish best in poor soil conditions, as rich soil can result in sprawling growth with weak stems, leading to a tendency for the plants to topple over.
Their tall, upright growth habit provides a striking contrast to the more rounded forms typically found in gardens, enhancing the visual appeal of the landscape.
In terms of pests and diseases, mullein plants are known for their wandering nature; they may appear in different locations from one year to the next due to self-seeding. Their height may necessitate staking for support.
Mulleins are particularly vulnerable to spider mite infestations in hot climates, and they can also suffer from powdery mildew and fungal leaf spots. Additionally, caterpillars may feed on their foliage.
Tags
#showy flowers
#full sun tolerant
#drought tolerant
#biennial
#perennial
#weedy
#cut flowers
#showy leaves
#deer resistant
#self-seeding
#cutting garden
#spiky
#poor soils tolerant
#rocky soils tolerant
#dry soils tolerant
#cutting
Similar Plants
Verbascum Feature Summary
Attributes
Verbascum flowers have been used in traditional Austrian medicine internally as a tea or externally for the treatment of disorders of the respiratory tract, skin, veins, gastrointestinal tract, and the locomotor system.
Europe, Asia, Africa
Its abundant pollen-rich flowers attract several species of bees as well as hummingbirds.
Biennial
Seed
Root Cutting
Attracts Pollinators
Colorful
Buffer
Screening
Attractive Flowers
Easy to Grow
Flowers
2-3 feet tall spikes of 1 inch, 5-petaled, saucer-shaped blooms in various colors.
Pink
Purple/Lavender
White
Gold/Yellow
Good Cut
Showy
Long Bloom Season
Summer
4-5 petals/rays
Saucer
1-3 inches
Leaves
The leaves are spirally arranged, often densely hairy, though glabrous (hairless) in some species. The basal rosettes can be up to 2 foot wide.
Deciduous
Gray/Silver
Simple
Whorled
Ovate
Entire
> 6 inches
Velvety
1-3 inches
Stem
Whole Plant Traits
Perennial
Annual
Herb
Deciduous
Erect
Medium
Low
Medium
Cultural Conditions
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Acid (<6.0)
Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Good Drainage
24-60 feet
12-24 feet
Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont
6a
6b
7a
7b
8b
8a
Clay
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Shallow Rocky
Fruit
Capsule
Summer
Fall
Landscape
Cutting Garden
Drought Tolerant Garden
Rock Garden
Cottage Garden
Border
Accent
Drought
Deer
Dry Soil
Poor Soil
Patio
Meadow
Slope/Bank
Vertical Spaces
Songbirds
Bees
Weedy
Invasive Species
Short-lived
Verbascum Image Gallery
Verbascum Attributes
Verbascum: Country Or Region Of Origin
Europe, Asia, Africa
Verbascum: Wildlife Value
Its abundant pollen-rich flowers attract several species of bees as well as hummingbirds.
Verbascum: Life Cycle
Annual
Biennial
Bulb
Perennial
Woody
Verbascum: Recommended Propagation Strategy
Division
Grafting
Layering
Leaf Cutting
Root Cutting
Seed
Stem Cutting
Verbascum: Play Value
Attractive Flowers
Attracts Pollinators
Buffer
Colorful
Defines Paths
Easy to Grow
Edible fruit
Fragrance
Pieces Used in Games
Screening
Shade
Sound
Textural
Wildlife Cover/Habitat
Wildlife Food Source
Wildlife Larval Host
Wildlife Nesting
Wind Break
Wind Shimmer
Verbascum Flowers
Verbascum: Flower Description
2-3 feet tall spikes of 1 inch, 5-petaled, saucer-shaped blooms in various colors.
Verbascum: Flower Color
Gold/Yellow
Pink
Purple/Lavender
White
Verbascum: Flower Inflorescence
Catkin
Corymb
Cyme
Head
Insignificant
Panicle
Raceme
Solitary
Spadix
Spike
Umbel
Verbascum: Flower Value To Gardener
Edible
Fragrant
Good Cut
Good Dried
Long Bloom Season
Long-lasting
Showy
Verbascum: Flower Bloom Time
Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall
Verbascum: Flower Petals
2-3 rays/petals
4-5 petals/rays
6 petals/rays
7 - 20 petals/rays
asymmetrical petals
Bracts
Colored Sepals
fused petals
more than 20 petals/rays
Tepals
Verbascum: Flower Shape
Bell
Cross
Crown
Cup
Dome
Funnel
Irregular
Lipped
Radial
Saucer
Star
Trumpet
Tubular
Urn
Wheel
Verbascum: Flower Size
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
< 1 inch
> 6 inches
Verbascum Leaves
Verbascum: Leaf Description
The leaves are spirally arranged, often densely hairy, though glabrous (hairless) in some species. The basal rosettes can be up to 2 foot wide.
Verbascum: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen
Verbascum: Leaf Color
Gray/Silver
Verbascum: Leaf Type
Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Fronds
Needles
Sheath
Simple
Verbascum: Leaf Arrangement
Alternate
Opposite
Other/more complex
Rosulate
Whorled
Verbascum: Leaf Shape
Acicular
Auriculate
Cordate
Cuneate
Deltoid
Elliptical
Filiform
Lanceolate
Linear
Oblanceolate
Oblong
Obovate
Obtuse
Orbicular
Ovate
Palmasect
Palmatifid
Peltate
Pinnatifid
Pinnatisect
Reniform
Rhomboidal
Spatulate
Subcordate
Subulate
Verbascum: Leaf Margin
Crenate
Crenulate
Dentate
Denticulate
Doubly Crenate
Doubly Dentate
Doubly Serrate
Entire
Lobed
Serrate
Sinuate
Undulate
Verbascum: Hairs Present
No
Yes
Verbascum: Leaf Length
< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches
Verbascum: Leaf Feel
Fleshy
Glossy
Leathery
Papery
Prickly
Rough
Rubbery
Slippery
Smooth
Soft
Velvety
Waxy
Verbascum: Leaf Width
< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches
Verbascum Stem
Verbascum: Stem Description
Powdery, branched stems.
Verbascum: Stem Color
Gray/Silver
Verbascum: Stem Is Aromatic
No
Yes
Verbascum Whole Plant Traits
Verbascum: Plant Type
Annual
Bulb
Carnivorous
Edible
Epiphyte
Fern
Ground Cover
Herb
Herbaceous Perennial
Houseplant
Mushroom
Native Plant
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Perennial
Poisonous
Rose
Shrub
Succulent
Tree
Turfgrass
Vegetable
Vine
Water Plant
Weed
Wildflower
Verbascum: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen
Verbascum: Habit/Form
Arching
Ascending
Broad
Cascading
Climbing
Clumping
Columnar
Conical
Creeping
Dense
Erect
Horizontal
Irregular
Mounding
Multi-stemmed
Multi-trunked
Open
Oval
Prostrate
Pyramidal
Rounded
Spreading
Vase
Weeping
Verbascum: Growth Rate
Slow
Medium
Rapid
Verbascum: Maintenance
Low
Medium
High
Verbascum: Texture
Fine
Medium
Coarse
Verbascum Cultural Conditions
Verbascum: Light
Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Verbascum: Soil pH
Acid (<6.0)
Alkaline (>8.0)
Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Verbascum: Soil Drainage
Frequent Standing Water
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasional Flooding
Occasionally Dry
Occasionally Wet
Very Dry
Verbascum: Available Space To Plant
12 inches-3 feet
12-24 feet
24-60 feet
3 feet-6 feet
6-feet-12 feet
Less than 12 inches
more than 60 feet
Verbascum: NC Region
Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont
Verbascum: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone
6a
6b
7a
7b
8a
8b
Verbascum: Soil Texture
Clay
High Organic Matter
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Shallow Rocky
Verbascum Fruit
Verbascum: Fruit Type
Achene
Aggregate
Berry
Capsule
Caryopsis
Drupe
Follicle
Legume
Nut
Pome
Samara
Schizocarp
Siliqua
Verbascum: Display/Harvest Time
Fall
Spring
Summer
Winter
Verbascum Landscape
Verbascum: Landscape Theme
Asian Garden
Butterfly Garden
Children's Garden
Cottage Garden
Cutting Garden
Drought Tolerant Garden
Edible Garden
English Garden
Fairy Garden
Garden for the Blind
Native Garden
Nighttime Garden
Pollinator Garden
Rain Garden
Rock Garden
Shade Garden
Water Garden
Winter Garden
Verbascum: Design Feature
Accent
Barrier
Border
Flowering Tree
Foundation Planting
Hedge
Mass Planting
Screen/Privacy
Security
Shade Tree
Small groups
Small Tree
Specimen
Street Tree
Understory Tree
Verbascum: Resistance To Challenges
Black Walnut
Compaction
Deer
Diseases
Drought
Dry Soil
Erosion
Fire
Foot Traffic
Heat
Heavy Shade
Humidity
Insect Pests
Pollution
Poor Soil
Rabbits
Salt
Slugs
Squirrels
Storm damage
Urban Conditions
Voles
Wet Soil
Wind
Verbascum: Landscape Location
Coastal
Container
Hanging Baskets
Houseplants
Lawn
Meadow
Naturalized Area
Near Septic
Patio
Pond
Pool/Hardscape
Recreational Play Area
Riparian
Rock Wall
Slope/Bank
Small Space
Vertical Spaces
Walkways
Woodland
Verbascum: Attracts
Bats
Bees
Butterflies
Frogs
Hummingbirds
Moths
Pollinators
Predatory Insects
Reptiles
Small Mammals
Songbirds
Specialized Bees
Verbascum: Problems
Allelopathic
Contact Dermatitis
Frequent Disease Problems
Frequent Insect Problems
Invasive Species
Malodorous
Messy
Poisonous to Humans
Problem for Cats
Problem for Children
Problem for Dogs
Problem for Horses
Short-lived
Spines/Thorns
Weak Wood
Weedy
