Northwest Blooms · Perennials
Verbascum nigrum var. album
White Velvet Mullein
- Family
- Scrophulariaceae
- Height
- 2-4 feet tall
- Width
- 1-2 feet wide
- Flower color
- White flowers with dark mauve anthers
- Foliage color
- Gray-green, lanceolate leaves
- Bloom time
- Late spring to summer
- Light
- Full sun to partial shade
- Water
- Low; drought-tolerant once established
- Maintenance
- Low; minimal pruning needed
- Growing zone
- USDA Zones 5-9
- Wildlife
- Attracts bees and other pollinators
About this plant
Verbascum nigrum var. album, commonly known as white velvet mullein, is a memorable perennial native to Europe and Asia. This elegant plant features tall, slender spires adorned with pure white, star-shaped flowers that boast dark mauve anthers at their centers, creating a beautiful contrast against the petals. Its upright form and delicate blooms make it a graceful addition to cottage gardens or wildflower-inspired landscapes.
Blooming from early to midsummer, Verbascum nigrum var. album attracts pollinators like bees and butterflies, drawn to its delicate flowers and open structure. The tall floral spikes add height and a touch of elegance to borders, meadows, and naturalized garden settings, providing enduring beauty throughout the season.
Works well in
Borders · Cottage Gardens · Pollinator Gardens · Waterwise Gardens · Cut Flower Gardens
Companion plants
Bergenias · Sedums · Columbines · Lungworts · Daylilies · Japanese anemones
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.
Where to see it
This plant can be seen in the perennial border at the Bellevue Botanical Garden.
