Verbascum 'Southern Charm'
mullein 'Southern Charm'
Bring easy height and soft, summery colour into the garden with tall, airy flower spikes that rise above a neat rosette of grey-green, softly hairy leaves. Each stem carries a gentle mix of pastel shades: apricot, blush pink, cream and lavender, finished with a subtle purple eye. Verbascum 'Southern Charm' keeps things light and natural, perfect for relaxed, informal planting.
It’s a strong performer in sunny, well-drained spots, especially where soil is on the drier or more alkaline side. Ideal for gravel gardens, cottage borders or wildlife-friendly spaces, it brings structure without feeling heavy and happily attracts pollinators through the season.
A short-lived perennial, and reliable biennial, that often self-seeds.
It’s a strong performer in sunny, well-drained spots, especially where soil is on the drier or more alkaline side. Ideal for gravel gardens, cottage borders or wildlife-friendly spaces, it brings structure without feeling heavy and happily attracts pollinators through the season.
A short-lived perennial, and reliable biennial, that often self-seeds.
How to care for Verbascum Southern Charm:
Grow in full sun and very free-draining soil, improving heavy ground with grit if needed. Water sparingly once established, as it is more tolerant of dry conditions but short lived.
Remove spent stems after flowering to keep plants tidy, but allow some to set seed to maintain future displays, and avoid cutting back rosettes until spring.
Mullein moth caterpillars can be a problem, so pick off the insects in early June as soon as they appear. Remove faded flower spikes if you do not want them to self-seed.
Remove spent stems after flowering to keep plants tidy, but allow some to set seed to maintain future displays, and avoid cutting back rosettes until spring.
Mullein moth caterpillars can be a problem, so pick off the insects in early June as soon as they appear. Remove faded flower spikes if you do not want them to self-seed.
Sowing instructions:
Sow seed on the surface of a free-draining compost and only lightly press in, as light helps germination. Keep the compost just moist and place in a bright, warm spot, avoiding overwatering which can cause rot.
Once seedlings are large enough to handle, prick them out into individual pots and grow on in good light, keeping conditions on the drier side.
Once seedlings are large enough to handle, prick them out into individual pots and grow on in good light, keeping conditions on the drier side.
Flowering period:
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
Eventual height:
1.2m
Eventual spread:
0.5m
Position:
Full sun
Rate of growth:
Average
Soil:
Moderately fertile, moist, well-drained soil
Hardiness:
Fully hardy
-
This perennial is semi-evergreen so it can lose some of its leaves in winter. In colder regions or more exposed gardens, it may lose them all, but then fresh new growth appears again in spring.
approx 10 seeds
£3.99
available to order from summer
Unavailable
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