Mullein in the Garden: Understanding Verbascum ×spurium
If you’ve ever wondered about that tall, stately plant with fuzzy leaves and towering flower spikes, you might be looking at a mullein. Verbascum ×spurium is one member of this distinctive plant family that has found its way into North American gardens, though it’s not originally from these parts.
What Exactly Is Verbascum ×spurium?
Verbascum ×spurium is a biennial mullein, meaning it lives for two years – spending its first year growing a rosette of leaves close to the ground, then shooting up a dramatic flower spike in its second year before setting seed and dying. As a forb (basically a fancy term for a non-woody flowering plant), this mullein lacks any significant woody growth and produces its flowers on herbaceous stems.
The × in its name is a dead giveaway that this is a hybrid – a cross between two different mullein species. While the exact parentage can be tricky to pin down, hybrids often combine the best (or sometimes most interesting) traits of their parent plants.
Where Does It Grow?
This particular mullein has established itself in New Jersey and New York, though as a non-native species, it originally hails from Europe. It’s what botanists call an introduced species – one that arrived here (likely accidentally) and now reproduces on its own in the wild.
Garden Appeal and Landscape Role
Mullein brings serious architectural drama to any garden setting. These plants are known for their:
- Impressive height when flowering (often reaching 4-6 feet tall)
- Distinctive fuzzy, silvery-green foliage
- Tall spikes of yellow flowers that bloom from bottom to top
- Ability to self-seed and create naturalized colonies
In landscape design, mullein works beautifully as a vertical accent plant, especially in cottage gardens, wildflower meadows, or naturalized areas. Its statuesque form creates excellent contrast against lower-growing plants.
Growing Conditions and Care
One of mullein’s best qualities is its easygoing nature. This plant thrives in:
- Full sun locations
- Well-drained soils (it actually prefers poor, rocky soils)
- Areas with good air circulation
- USDA hardiness zones 4-8 (typical for most mulleins)
Once established, mullein is remarkably drought-tolerant and requires minimal care. In fact, too much water or rich soil can actually make the plants less sturdy and more prone to flopping over.
Benefits to Wildlife
The flowers do provide nectar for various pollinators, including bees and butterflies, and the seeds can feed birds later in the season. However, since this is a non-native species, it won’t support native wildlife as effectively as indigenous plants would.
Should You Plant It?
Here’s where things get nuanced. While Verbascum ×spurium isn’t currently listed as invasive, its non-native status means it’s not the ideal choice for gardeners focused on supporting local ecosystems. If you’re drawn to the architectural beauty of mullein, consider these native alternatives that offer similar dramatic height and structure:
- Evening primrose (Oenothera species)
- Wild bergamot (Monarda fistulosa)
- Compass plant (Silphium laciniatum)
- Great blue lobelia (Lobelia siphilitica)
If you do choose to grow this mullein, simply be mindful about preventing it from spreading beyond your garden boundaries, and consider removing spent flower heads before seeds disperse if you’re in an area near natural habitats.
The Bottom Line
Verbascum ×spurium brings undeniable drama and old-world charm to gardens, with minimal care requirements and impressive architectural presence. While it’s not native to North America, it’s not currently flagged as problematic either. The choice ultimately comes down to your gardening philosophy and whether supporting native ecosystems is a priority for your landscape. Either way, understanding what you’re growing – and its place in the broader ecosystem – always makes for better gardening decisions.
