August 24, 1912. 



THE GARDENERS' MAGAZINE. 



649 



VERBASCUMS. 



The verbascums, or mulleins as they are 

 more commonly called, when 

 suitable positions and 



occupying 

 grown well J are 

 of hardy plants, 

 well worthy of a 

 The genus is an ex- 



that 



positions 

 among the most stately 

 and some of them are 

 place in the garden. 



tensive one, comprising species tnat range 

 in height from the pretty little V. phoeni- 

 eeum^ about two feet high, to the giant 

 V. olympicum, which often reaches a 



height of ten feet or more. For forming 

 groups of an effective character. like that 

 shown in the accompanying illustration, 

 some of the taller kinds are well adapted, 

 while for woodland or wild gardening they 

 may be classed amongst the most useful 

 subjects on account of their noble appear- 

 ance when planted in well-selected ])osi- 

 tions. Several of the tall species may be 

 used with advantage in the shrubbery bor- 



land or shrubbery where large quantities 

 are required, but it must not be forgotten 

 that early thinning is essential to success. 

 A good method is to sow the seed in boxes, 

 and prick off the seedlings either into pot« 

 or boxes, then when large enough plant 

 them in the positions in which they are 

 to flower. In planting it must be remem- 

 bered that V. olympicum and similar large- 

 growing species often have a spread of 

 leaves from 4ft. to oft. across. 



During recent years attention has been 

 devoted to the improvement of some of the 

 members of this genus, with the result that 

 some five forms have been produced, of 

 which one of the most desirable is a white 

 form of V. phlomoides. AnotluM- is T*. 

 Caledonia, with bronzy-bun floAvtM s. a most 

 distinct plant of the habit of V. nigrum. 

 The foIlo^^ ing are among the most orna- 



mental species : 



V. Blattaria, or Moth Mullein 



the photograph was taken, but is a stately 

 species with very large, white, woolly 

 leaves, and a massive columnar inflores- 

 cence. The flowers are rich vellow and 



a/ 



large, and closely packed together on stems 

 4ft. to 5ft. high. Also known under the 

 name of V. parmosum, this plant is a re- 

 cent introduction, being a native of Italy 

 and the Balkans. 



V. nigrum is a native plant, and well 

 worth a place in the lu)r<ler. Only about 

 2ft. high, it is of neat habit, witli yellow 

 flowers and bright purple fihunciits. A 

 group of the white-flowered variety ol this 

 spe<*ies may be seen in the foregroun<l <m 

 the right-hand side of the illustration, and 

 this admirably shows tlie distinctive char- 

 acteristics of the species, 



V. olympicum. ---1'ljis s})e(' Cs. wlnCli occu- 

 ])ies the centre of the group in the |iietiire, 

 is one of the noblest of the family, with 

 This large rosettes of white, woolly leaves and 



A GROUP OF SPECIES OF VERBASCUM IN THE HERBACEOUS GROUND, KEAV. 



The stately Verbascum olympicum occupies a central position in the group. 



der, where the shrubs are not too thickly 

 l>Uinted, while the smaller ones like our 

 native Moth Mnllein (V. Blattaria), are 

 v*My attracti\o \u the fern border. In 

 such positions this spceies will quickly be- 

 <*ome naturalised, and at the same time 

 will not become vspread in such manner as 

 to become a nuisance. 



For the purpose of cultivation all the 

 mulleins may be rogarde<l as biennials, 

 although there ai"e a few exceptions, such 

 as V. nigrum. Tlu\v are mostly of strong 

 and rapid growth, requiring plenty of room 

 for leaf development, and, if raised from 

 seed sown outs'de, they require early at- 

 tention in the matter of thinning out the 

 plants. Only by attention to this detail 

 ^vlll the finest (effect and stately plants be 

 produced. While thev will grow in a'most 

 any jXKsition, th(\v will re))ay good cultivi_ 

 ^"fin ami a deej», well-worked soil. Tlie 

 J^eeds may be sown broadcast in the wood- 



species is one of our native plants, with 

 dark ^reen, shining leaves, and stems alxuit 

 3ft. high. It has bright yellow flowers, 

 about lin. in diameter, with purple fila- 

 ments. There is also a very pretty white 

 va riety. 



V. Chaixi. or Nettle-leaved Mullein, is a 

 jather stronger thrower, and attains 



stronger grower, an<i attains a 

 height ranging from 4ft. to 6ft., with 

 numerous ^-ellow flow^ers disposed in dense 

 branching spikes. This plant is moi^e of a 

 perennial than most of the others. 



V. cupreum is a rare and beautiful hybrid 

 l>etween V. pho^niceuni an<l V. ovalifolium, 

 with the dwarf habit of the fiu nier and <lis- 

 tinct cop|>ery-coloured flowers in slender 

 spikes. It is a A'ery ol<l jilant, having been 

 raised about a hun<l red yea is ago. It 

 flowers from Mav till Julv. 



b • 



V. longifolinm. Tins ]dant may be seen 

 on the right of the picture with rather a 

 close spike. It was past flowering when 



giant pyramids of rich yellow flowers, 

 reaching to a height of 10ft. or more. 

 Lasting in flower for a consi<lerable period, 

 with its candelabra-like infloresci'uces, it is 

 very valuable and statel\\ 



V. phonioides, with yellow flowers, and 

 its white variety are also worth growing. 



V. phoeniceum.-. A very pretty species 

 with light, graceful spikes of flowers, wdiich 

 vary in colour from rich purple to white. 

 It is well worth a place in the rock garden 

 or select border^ on account of its dwarf 

 and neat habit. It flow-ers freely from 

 Mav to Julv. Closely revsemblinc; this plant 

 is V. Wiedmanniauuni. from Asia Minor, 

 with deep purple flowers. 



There are many other species in cult'va- 

 tion, one of the most recent introfluctions 

 being V. leianthum. from Asia Minor, a 

 tall-growing, somewhat slender-branching 

 i)lant with small yellow flowers. 



W. I. 



