Verbascum blattaria

Verbascum blattaria

This biennial plant belongs to the same family as foxgloves (Scrophulariaceae) and is sometimes known as moth mullein. For some time, its shiny green seedlings with their scalloped-edged leaves, as I thought them inappropriate for my garden, but these days I have a more hybrid look, as I found I couldn't live without some of the plants that are not strictly tropical ones. So I let the Verbascum flower, and rediscovered how attractive it is. It has tall spires of white flowers with a purple eye, and the stems seem quite sturdy and rarely in need of staking. They don't take up a lot of room at ground level so can squeeze themselves in amongst other plants quite well, but they are best near the front of borders so that they don't get grown over by taller plants. I don't find it self-seeds too much. It grows best in a hot, dry position. I have never had much luck with any other species of Verbascum in my garden.