Verbascum nigrum
| Verbascum nigrum | |
| Light: |  |
| Moisture: |   |
| Hardiness: | 5 |
| Soil pH: | 5.6-8.4 |
| Self Pollinated | |
| Height: | 3' |
| Width: | 2' |
| Blooms: | Early Summer-Mid Fall |
| Native to: | |
| Medicinal Rating: | |
| Tea: | Yes |
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Verbascum nigrum (common name: dark mullein)
Propagation: Seed - sow late spring to early summer in a cold frame and only just cover the seed[1]. Germination usually takes place within 2 - 3 weeks. When they are large enough to handle, prick out the seedlings into individual pots and plant them out in late summer. The seed has a long viability[1].
Division in spring. This plant is a short-lived perennial that grows away very well from seed, so we do not try and divide it.
Cultivation: An easily grown plant, it succeeds in most well-drained soils, including dry ones, preferring a sunny position[2][1]. Dislikes shade and wet soils[3][1]. Plants only really thrive when they are grown on chalky soils[1]. Prefers a light soil[1].
This species is fairly reliably perennial[1], but only when grown on light or medium soils[2].
A very ornamental plant, it often self-sows[4][2].
Hybridizes with other members of this genus, though the progeny are usually sterile[1].
Range: Europe, including Britain, from Scandanavia south and east to Spain, Siberia, Macedonia, Caucasus.
Habitat: Waysides and open habitats on banks etc, usually on dry calcareous soils[5][1].
Medicinal: The flowers and leaves are anodyne, antiseptic, astringent, demulcent, emollient, expectorant, pectoral and vulnerary[6][7]. An infusion is used internally in the treatment of various respiratory complaints including coughs, bronchitis, asthma and throat irritations[7].
An infusion of the fresh or dried flowers in olive oil is used to treat earaches, sores, wounds, boils etc[7].
The plant is harvested when in flower and should be dried quickly and with care or it will lose its medicinal qualities[7].
Pollinators: Flies, lepidoptera, self
Soil: Can grow in light, medium, and heavy soils.
Drainage: Prefers well drained soil.
Seed Ripens: Late Summer-Mid Fall
Flower Type: Hermaphrodite
Links
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 Huxley, Anthony. The New Royal Horticultural Society Dictionary of Gardening. MacMillan Press, 1992.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Sanders, Thomas. Popular Hardy Perennials. Collingridge, 1926.
- ↑ Royal Horticultural Society. The Garden Volume 113. Royal Horticultural Society, 1988.
- ↑ Chittendon, Fred. RHS Dictionary of Plants. Oxford University Press, 1951.
- ↑ Clapham, Arthur and Tom Tootin, Edmund Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press, 1962.
- ↑ Lust, John. The Herb Book. Bantam Books, 1983.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 Bown, Deni. Royal Horticultural Society Encyclopaedia of Herbs and Their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, 1995.