Northwest Blooms · Perennials
Verbascum nigrum
Dark Mullein
- Family
- Scrophulariaceae
- Height
- 2-4 feet tall
- Width
- 1-2 feet wide
- Flower color
- Bright yellow, with dark purple markings
- Foliage color
- Green, with fuzzy, grayish leaves
- Bloom time
- Late spring to early summer
- Light
- Full sun to partial shade
- Water
- Moderate
- Maintenance
- Low
- Growing zone
- USDA Zones 4-8
- Wildlife
- Attracts pollinators, particularly bees and butterflies
About this plant
Verbascum nigrum, commonly known as dark mullein, is a biennial or short-lived perennial native to Europe and parts of Asia. This hardy plant is often found in disturbed areas, roadsides, and meadows, showcasing its resilience and adaptability. The foliage consists of large, soft, gray-green leaves that form a rosette during the first year, giving way to tall flowering spikes in the second year.
Blooming from early to mid-summer, Verbascum nigrum produces elongated racemes filled with bright yellow flowers that display five petals and a distinctive dark purple center. These vibrant blooms attract various pollinators, including bees and butterflies, adding liveliness to gardens and natural areas. With its dramatic vertical growth and eye-catching flowers, this mullein is a perfect choice for creating a bold statement in perennial borders or wildflower gardens.
Works well in
Borders · Cottage Gardens · Pollinator Gardens · Cut Flower Gardens
Companion plants
Columbines · Lungworts · Daylilies · Japanese anemones · Bleeding hearts · Catmint
Design tip
Summer flowers carry the middle of the season, so place it where the bed needs color once spring bulbs fade. It takes sun or light shade, which makes it useful along the changing light of a bed edge or a partly shaded border.
