Choosing a Verbascum

According to the colour of the flowers

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Yellow Flower Varieties

This refers to the colour of wild mulleins, botanical varieties found in nature (Verbascum thapsus, V. densiflorum…). Particularly bright, yellow-flowered mulleins are ideal for creating colourful borders, alongside other vibrant and warm colours. Some horticultural varieties offer very beautiful contrasting blooms.

• Verbascum ‘Dark Eyes’ forms dense, short clusters of pale yellow flowers adorned with a brown-red centre. It is a dwarf variety, not exceeding 30 cm in height, perfect for borders and flowering pots.
• Verbascum ‘Gainsborough’ displays pyramid-shaped spikes of pale yellow flowers adorned with golden stamens in summer. This variety is ideal for naturalistic gardens and mixed borders.
• Verbascum ‘Cotswold Queen’: this variety bears long spikes of dark yellow flowers, almost orange, speckled with brown at the centre. It is a tall mullein reaching 1.5 m in height.
• Verbascum olympicum : the Olympian mullein bears large, branched pyramid spikes, consisting of countless yellow flowers. It is a spectacular variety, reaching 1.8 m in height and displaying an impressive flowering!
• Verbascum thapsus : also known as Great Mullein or Candlewick, it is a wild medicinal plant that grows spontaneously in France. It forms large spikes of yellow, fragrant flowers in summer.
• Verbascum ‘Polarsommer’ : undoubtedly one of the most beautiful varieties, Verbascum ‘Polarsommer’ features ample, fluffy, silver foliage and displays long, silver spikes of yellow flowers.

Verbascum thapsus (photo: Agnieszka Kwiecień) and Verbascum ‘Cotswold Queen’

White Flower Varieties

Bright, elegant, and understated, white-flowered mulleins are the easiest to integrate into the garden. They will find their place in any type of border, particularly in graphic, cottage, or romantic gardens, but also alongside vibrant and colourful blooms.

• Verbascum chaixii ‘Album’: this variety bears long spikes of cream-white flowers with a red-violet centre.
• Verbascum phoeniceum ‘Flush of White’ : this is a superb mullein with pure white flowers adorned with cream stamens. It is ideal for a romantic garden.
• Verbascum ‘White Domino’ : this mullein offers summer spikes reaching up to 1.2 m in height, consisting of very beautiful cup-shaped pure white flowers.

Verbascum phoeniceum ‘Flush of White’ and Verbascum ‘White Domino’

Purple or Violet Flower Varieties

Original, these mulleins are ideal in mixed borders alongside other colourful perennials. They pair wonderfully with yellow-flowered plants (heleniums, bidens, achilleas…), creating a stunning colour contrast!

• Verbascum ‘Sugar Plum’ is a compact variety (up to 40 cm tall) and very floriferous, offering summer blooms of mauve flowers with a purple centre, in dense spikes.
• Verbascum phoeniceum ‘Violetta’ : this mullein offers long, airy spikes in summer, consisting of dark purple flowers. It has a light and natural style, integrating seamlessly into cottage gardens.

Verbascum ‘Sugar Plum’ and Verbascum phoeniceum (photo: Charlie Jackson)

Pink Flower Varieties

They are ideal in romantic gardens and cottage gardens, to accompany blooms in pastel tones: mauve, light blue, white…

• Verbascum ‘Pink Domino’ : this medium-sized variety (up to 1 m tall) offers beautiful pale pink flowers marked with dark pink – purple at the centre.
• Verbascum ‘Royalty’ : this is a dwarf variety (30 cm) with dark pink flowers.
• Verbascum ‘Southern Charm’ : this is a superb variety that offers summer flowers in pastel shades: light pink, orange, apricot… contrasted by a purple centre.
• Verbascum ‘Rosie’ is a compact but very floriferous variety, offering dense clusters of many pale pink flowers with a purple centre.

Verbascum ‘Southern Charm’ and Verbascum ‘Rosie’

Orange Flower Varieties

We appreciate their particularly warm hue. They create a beautiful contrast when paired with blue flowers, such as those of salvias, campanulas, delphiniums, and hardy geraniums. They also look stunning alongside yellow and red flowers, and purple foliage, for a warm-toned border!

• Verbascum ‘Helen Johnson’ is a very beautiful variety that forms dense spikes of copper-orange flowers, marked with purple at the centre.
• Verbascum ‘Jackie’: this mullein is a dwarf variety that offers pale orange – apricot flowers, slightly tinged with salmon pink.
• Verbascum ‘Southern Charm’: this variety bears flowers in pastel colours, with a hue between light pink and orange.

Verbascum ‘Helen Johnson’ and Verbascum ‘Jackie'[/caption>

…And the Unique Blue Flower Variety!

There is only one blue-flowered mullein: Verbascum ‘Blue Lagoon’. This unique variety reaches 75 cm in height and displays airy spikes of intense blue flowers, marked with purple at the centre, in summer. Its flowering resembles that of delphiniums. It will easily find its place in cottage gardens.
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According to height

Dwarf varieties: up to 50 cm tall

With their compact size, these varieties are ideal for borders or at the front of a perennial bed. They will also find their place in flowering pots, containers, or window boxes, on a terrace, balcony, or in a small garden.

• Verbascum ‘Dark Eyes’ : this small mullein offers beautiful yellow flowers contrasted with brown-purple. It reaches only 30 cm in height.
• Verbascum ‘Royalty’: of similar height, this variety bears intensely dark pink flowers.
• Verbascum ‘Jackie’ : this is a dwarf mullein with light orange-salmon flowers. It measures up to 35-40 cm in height.
• Verbascum ‘Sugar Plum’ : this variety bears spikes of about 35 cm tall in summer, consisting of mauve flowers with a purple centre.

Verbascums ‘Jackie’ and ‘Sugar Plum’ are among the smallest varieties

Medium-sized mulleins: about 1 m tall

Of intermediate size, these Verbascums are versatile and can find their place in many beds.

• Verbascum ‘Flush of White’ : this superb variety will reach 80 cm in height, or more in fertile soil. It bears spikes of pure white flowers, with a chic and elegant style.
• Verbascum ‘Pink Domino’ is a variety that offers floral spikes reaching 1 m tall in summer, adorned with pale pink flowers with a purple throat.
• Verbascum ‘Gainsborough’ forms floral spikes reaching up to 1.20 m tall, consisting of yellow flowers adorned with golden stamens.
• Verbascum chaixii ‘Album’: this is a beautiful variety that bears cream-white flowers contrasted with purple-red at the centre. It reaches up to 1 m in height.

Verbascum ‘Pink Domino’ and Verbascum chaixii ‘Album’ are medium-sized varieties

The tallest mulleins: over 1.50 m tall

These imposing varieties are perfect for the back of a bed, alongside other tall perennials and grasses. Particularly graphic, they bring verticality and create a focal point in the garden.

• Verbascum ‘Polarsommer’ : this is a superb variety with yellow flowers and silvery, downy foliage.
• Verbascum thapsus: the great mullein offers floral spikes of yellow flowers in summer. It integrates easily into naturalistic gardens.
• Verbascum olympicum : the Olympian mullein is a spectacular variety that bears large pyramidal inflorescences, adorned with yellow flowers, reaching between 1.80 m and 2 m tall.

Verbascum ‘Polarsommer’ and Verbascum olympicum are among the tallest (photos: Nathalie Pasquel – MAP / Mark)

Depending on the use and style of the garden

In a Romantic Garden

To create a romantic atmosphere, favour varieties with white or pink flowers. For example, you might choose Verbascum ‘Flush of White’, which offers an elegant pure white flowering, or Verbascum ‘Rosie’, with soft pink flowers. Plant them alongside a rose bush, a ‘White Pearl’ clematis, and paniculate gypsophila.

In a Cottage Garden

The best Verbascums for cottage gardens are those that offer flowers in soft, pastel tones: light pink, mauve, apricot, white, or blue. Verbascum ‘Southern Charm’ will be perfect for this style of garden! Pair it with campanulas, foxgloves, delphiniums, and hardy geraniums.

In a Naturalistic Garden

For a naturalistic garden, we recommend choosing a Verbascum with delicate and light flowering, such as Verbascum phoeniceum or Verbascum ‘Helen Johnson’. They will be perfect to accompany the flowering of gaura, scabious, yarrow, poppies, and cornflowers. Also consider grasses, such as Chinese fountain grass or Calamagrostis brachytricha.

In a Colourful Mixed Border

Choose mulleins with bright flowers: yellow, orange, purple, blue, or dark pink. You might opt for Verbascum ‘Cotswold Queen’, which will beautifully complement the flowering of dahlias, yarrow, echinacea, heleniums, and monardas, creating a vibrant display!

In a Medicinal Plant Garden

The Verbascum thapsus or Mullein is renowned for its medicinal properties: it helps treat coughs, sore throats, and respiratory system inflammations. It has soothing, emollient, and mucilaginous properties and can be consumed as an infusion or decoction. It is primarily the flowers that are used. Thus, this Verbascum will fit perfectly in a medicinal plant garden, alongside, for example, common sage, lavender, chamomile, valerian, St. John’s wort, and echinacea.

For Pot Cultivation on the Balcony or Terrace

If you wish to grow Verbascum in pots, opt for a compact variety. You might choose Verbascum ‘Royalty’ with dark pink flowers, Verbascum ‘Dark Eyes’ with pale yellow flowers, purplish at the centre, or Verbascum ‘Sugar Plum’, with mauve-plum to light pink flowers. They will be perfect in a pot or window box to bring colour to your terrace or balcony!