Verbascum thapsus
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- ver-BASK-um THAP-sus
- Description
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Rosettes of silver/green pubescent foliage similar to that of lambs ear. This plant is a biennial, the first year being the vegetative growth and the second year producing a tall flower spike of fragrant yellow flowers. Reseeds readily. Average to well-drained soil; sun; fields, roadsides, waste places.
Listed as invasive in several states. It can form a dense ground cover, overtaking native plants.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Verbascum
- Species:
- thapsus
- Family:
- Scrophulariaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Biennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Europe
- Dimensions:
- Height: 3 ft. 0 in. - 7 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 2 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Herb
- Perennial
- Wildflower
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Semi-evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Mounding
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Coarse
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- High Organic Matter
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Shallow Rocky
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5b, 5a, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9b, 9a
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- The fruit is an ovoid capsule that splits, releasing 100,000 to 180,000 seeds from the parent plant, that germinate in water.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Spike
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Long-lasting
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Saucer
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Dense cylindrical flower cluster 1/2 -2 feet long with 3/4 inch, 5-lobed yellow blooms.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Semi-evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Gray/Silver
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Soft
- Velvety
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Rosulate
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Leaf Margin:
- Crenate
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- 4 to 12 in. elliptical leaves are pointed at both ends and taper to a winged stalk; stems and leaves are densely covered with with woolly hairs; the first year the plant produces a large rosette of grayish green, flannel-like leaves; the second year it sends up a wand-like leaf stalk
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Surface:
- Hairy (pubescent)
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Meadow
- Naturalized Area
- Recreational Play Area
- Small Space
- Landscape Theme:
- Cottage Garden
- Drought Tolerant Garden
- Winter Garden
- Design Feature:
- Accent
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Butterflies
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Drought
- Pollution
- Rabbits
- Urban Conditions
