Verbascum 'Cherry Helen'
mullein
An award winning variety, producing tall stems covered in intense wine-red florets above rosettes of deep green leaves. Perfect for the middle of a sunny border or cottage garden, it prefers poor, well-drained, alkaline soils.
How to care for Verbascum Cherry Helen:
Plant in full sun or light shade in well-drained soil, spacing plants to allow good airflow. Water regularly while establishing, then only during prolonged dry spells, as they dislike wet, winter ground conditions.
Deadhead spent flower stems promptly to encourage repeat flowering, and leave the basal rosette intact over winter, tidying back in spring when new growth appears.
Mullein moth caterpillars can be a problem, so pick off the insects in early June as soon as they appear. Remove faded flower spikes if you do not want them to self-seed.
Deadhead spent flower stems promptly to encourage repeat flowering, and leave the basal rosette intact over winter, tidying back in spring when new growth appears.
Mullein moth caterpillars can be a problem, so pick off the insects in early June as soon as they appear. Remove faded flower spikes if you do not want them to self-seed.
Flowering period:
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
Eventual height:
1.2m
Eventual spread:
0.3m
Position:
Full sun
Rate of growth:
Average
Soil:
Moderately fertile, moist, well-drained soil
Hardiness:
Fully hardy
-
This perennial is semi-evergreen so it can lose some of its leaves in winter. In colder regions or more exposed gardens, it may lose them all, but then fresh new growth appears again in spring.
9cm pot
£12.99
available to order from late spring
Unavailable
3 × 9cm pots
£29.99
£10.00 each
available to order from late spring
Unavailable
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