Verbascum bombyciferum 'Polarsommer'
Silk-bearing mullein
Also known as Verbascum bombyciferum 'Arctic Summer', Verbascum 'Arctic Summer'
- Height × spread
- 1.2m × 0.5m
- Position
- Full sun
- Hardiness
- Very cold to -20C (RHS H6)
- Flowers
- Spring, Summer
Availability
Please ask in store about availability
Many plants are seasonal. Call 01234 567890 to check current stock.
About this plant
This characterful biennial makes a substantial foliage mound of large wavy silver-green leaves. From this arises a stout flowering spike with a woolly-looking stem clad in bumpy but rounded hairy buds. These open to sulphur yellow single flowers with rounded petals and white stamens, orange tipped at the heart. It should flower from May to July. This should set seed and plants then choose their own places to grow, pull up those you don't want!
- Flower colour
- Yellow
- Foliage colour
- Grey
- Stem colour
- Silver
- Variegated
- No
- Scent
- No
- Shape
- Column
- Height
- 1.2m
- Spread
- 0.5m
- Season of interest
- Spring, Summer
- Flowers in
- Spring, Summer
- Evergreen
- Evergreen
- Garden style
- Wild flower meadow, Seaside garden, Prairie garden, Gravel garden, Exotic garden, Cottage garden
- Sun or shade
- Likes full sun
- Soil type
- Chalk, Loam (normal)
- Soil pH
- Alkaline, Neutral
- Drainage
- Dry soil, Drought resistant
- Hardiness
- Very cold to -20C (RHS H6)
- Borders & containers
- Borders
- Use for
- Deer resistant, Rabbit resistant, Bee attraction, Butterfly attraction, Sensory garden (tactile)
- Hazards
- No
Spring
Spring - late · Outdoors
Feed with slow release fertiliser
Apply a general purpose slow release fertiliser, spreading it around the root area of the plant as it is coming into growth. (Or apply a liquid feed at regular intervals throughout the growing season.)
This is a simple way to provide a nutrient boost as a single annual procedure.
Spring-Autumn · Outdoors
Water in dry periods
Established plants in the ground can cope with 7-10 days of dryness, and shrubs often manage 2 to 3 weeks. Water one section of the garden thoroughly each day rather than a little everywhere. Check plants in pots more often, especially in hot weather.
Spring, Summer, Autumn · Planting
Cut faded flower stems
Once all the blooms on the stem have opened and faded, cut the entire stem off.
Spring - early-mid · Planting
Divide when too large
The plant can be divided if it becomes too large or another plant is required. This may involve physically dividing the clump in two, removing offsets or small bulbs or dividing rhizomes. The new plants can be grown in pots or planted in the ground.
Planting & general
Compost · Planting
Multi-purpose compost
Use a good quality peat-free multi-purpose compost when growing in pots and containers.
Found in
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