Verbascum (Cotswold Group) 'Cotswold Queen'

mullein

Eventual height & spread

Verbascum (Cotswold Group) 'Cotswold Queen'

mullein

  • 9cm pot
  • £8.99
  • available to order from late spring
  • 3 × 9cm pots
  • £21.00 £26.97
  • available to order from late spring
  • 2 litre pot
  • £18.99
  • available to order from late spring
  • 3 × 2 litre pots
  • £49.99 £56.97
  • available to order from late spring
Delivery options
  • Standard £5.95
  • Position: full sun
  • Soil: poor, well-drained, alkaline soil
  • Rate of growth: average
  • Flowering period: July to August
  • Hardiness: fully hardy (but short-lived)

    Towering spires of saucer shaped, yellow summer flowers with purple centres above rosettes of grey green leaves. This cheerful yellow verbascum provides vertical interest in a sunny border or cottage garden. It prefers a poor, well-drained soil. On more favourable soil conditions the plant needs staking in spring.

  • Garden care: Apply a 5-7cm (2-3in) mulch around the base of the plant in autumn to protect from winter extremes, taking care not to cover the crown. Stake in spring with bamboo canes or twiggy prunings before the flowers appear. Mullein moth caterpillars can be a problem, pick off the insects in early June as soon as they appear. Remove faded flower spikes.

    It is worth keeping in mind that these plants are mainly biennial, so although they usually self-seed freely, the plant will only live for two years.