Verbascum lychnitis

Verbascum lychnitis, the white mullein, is a flowering plant in the figwort family (Scrophulariaceae) native to Asia and Europe. It has naturalized in parts of North America. The species was first formally named by Carl Linnaeus in 1753. Despite its common name, the flowers can be white or yellow.It is a biennial [1] or short-lived perennial commonly found in disturbed areas.Verbascum lychnitis can be distinguished from other species in the genus Verbascum by the sessile and non-clasping stem leaves with upper and lower surfaces differing in color; small, flowers that are separated (not as tightly bunched together as other mulleins); and the somewhat long flower stalks. As with other Mulleins the leaves are clothed with dendritic hairs. In V. lychnitis, the hairs are very short, less than 0.2 mm, so as to appear stellate. The lower surface is much hairier than the upper. [2]It hybridizes with other mullein species , including V.nigrum, V.pulverentum and V.thapsus.

Characteristics

Plant Type

Herb

Life Cycle

Biennial, Perennial, Annual

Genus

Verbascum

Family

Scrophulariaceae

Hardiness Zone

5-9

Mature Height

91 cm

Mature Spread

61 cm

Leaf Color

Green, Gray

Leaf Type

Evergreen

Flower Color

Yellow

Flower Size

1.52 cm to 2.54 cm

Bloom Time

Early summer, Mid summer

Planting Time

Autumn

Harvest Time

Mid summer

Native Area

Austria, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Montenegro, Bulgaria, Poland, Greece, Croatia, Slovenia, Morocco, Belarus, Ukraine, Serbia, Russia, Hungary, Germany, Italy, Kazakhstan, Spain, Switzerland, Denmark, France, Albania, United Kingdom, Romania, Belgium, Netherlands

Tags (4)

Common Names (1)