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Verbascum virgatum

wand mullein

Scrophulariaceae

Western Europe and western Mediterranean

Attracts Pollinators Deer Resistant Drought Tolerant

SunFull Sun

WaterLow · drought-tolerant

HardinessZones 7–10

Overview

Verbascum virgatum is an erect biennial herb that forms a basal rosette in its first year and a flowering stem 2-5 feet (0.6-1.5 m) tall in its second. The rosette leaves are oblong to lance-shaped, 4-10 inches (10-25 cm) long, dark green, wrinkled, and sparsely covered with glandular hairs. The flowering stem is sparsely branched and bears yellow flowers 0.8-1.2 inches (2-3 cm) across, each with five rounded lobes and stamens clothed in purple hairs, opening a few at a time along the wand-like spike. Flowering runs through late spring and summer, followed by rounded seed capsules that release large numbers of tiny seeds. Growth is rapid in the second year, and the plant dies after seeding. It self-seeds heavily and is naturalised as a weed across many temperate regions. The sticky glandular hairs trap small insects on the stems and leaves.

Native Range

Native to western Europe and the western Mediterranean, including the Iberian Peninsula, France, and the British Isles. Grows on disturbed ground, roadsides, riverbanks, and waste places in well-drained soils. Widely naturalised in Australia, New Zealand, and North America.

Suggested Uses

Grown occasionally in informal, gravel, and cottage-style plantings for the tall flowering spikes, spaced 18-24 inches (45-60 cm) apart. The self-seeding habit suits wild and meadow settings but spreads into open ground. Its weed status makes it unsuited to plantings near pasture or natural areas.

How to Identify

Identified by a tall sparsely branched flowering stem with yellow flowers 0.8-1.2 inches (2-3 cm) across and stamens covered in purple hairs. Differs from Verbascum thapsus, which has a densely woolly grey stem and leaves, by its nearly hairless green foliage and more widely spaced flowers. Rosette leaves are wrinkled and 4-10 inches (10-25 cm) long.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height2' - 5'

Width/Spread1' - 1'6"

Reaches mature size in approximately 2 years

Colors

Flower Colors

yellow

Foliage Colors

green

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~8 weeks

Spring Summer

Flowers from late spring through summer in the second year. Individual flowers last about 1 day, opening a few at a time, while the spike continues flowering for 6-10 weeks. Flowering is followed by persistent rounded seed capsules.

Detailed Descriptions

Flower Description

yellow with purple-haired stamens

Foliage Description

dark green

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunFull Sun

Requires 6-10 hours of direct sunlight daily

• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight

• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight

• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight

Soil Requirements

pH Range6.0 - 7.5(Neutral)

357912

Soil Types

loam sand rocky

Drainagewell drained

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Low

Frost Tolerance

hardy

Time to Maturity

2 years

Drought Tolerance

Drought tolerant when established

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Grows in full sun on well-drained soils of low to moderate fertility, including gravelly and disturbed ground. First-year rosettes need little water and tolerate dry conditions. Plants flower and die in the second year, so replacement depends on self-sown seedlings. A single plant can release tens of thousands of seeds, producing dense seedling flushes. The species is listed as a weed in parts of Australia and the United States, where it colonises pasture and roadsides.

Pruning

Cut the flowering spike before the capsules ripen to limit the heavy self-seeding. The whole plant is removed after flowering, as it does not regrow. Rosette leaves need no trimming in the first year.