Verbascum ‘Gainsborough’
at Digging Dog

Verbascum

Mullein

This genus has a host of common names, including ‘Beggar’s Blanket’ and ‘Old Man’s Flannel’. In England, the very poor used to put the thick leaves into their shoes for warmth. It is also said that when fish eat the seeds, they are stupefied and can be gathered by hand.

Although most of the more than 300 species are biennials, our offerings are perennials. Though some are dwarfs and some are giants, nearly all have fuzzy stamens and prefer very well drained sandy or rocky soil. We like to use them in the rock garden as specimens or for naturalizing.

Verbascum ‘Gainsborough’ 

This Verbascum’s hushed colors are soothing to the senses and easy to blend with other perennials. Centered by delicate orange stamens, the cupped, dusky primrose yellow flowers and cream-colored buds crowd numerous branched candelabra-style spires. Wooly gray leaves converge at the base of the statuesque presentation, while Echinops ‘Arctic Glow’s snow-white spheres make a pleasing counterpoint.

Blooms July – August.

Size: 4'–4-1/2' high x 18" wide; hardy to zone 5.

Verbascum ‘Gainsborough’ (P-1556)
Each $7.75
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Other selections in this genus

• Verbascum chaixii ‘Sixteen Candles’
• Verbascum chaixii ‘Wedding Candles’
• Verbascum ‘Clementine’
• Verbascum hybridum ‘Wega’
• Verbascum nigrum ‘Album’
• Verbascum olympicum
• Verbascum phoeniceum ‘Flush of White’
• Verbascum phoeniceum ‘Rosetta’
• Verbascum phoeniceum ‘Violetta’
• Verbascum ‘Pink Domino’
• Verbascum ‘White Domino’