Verbascum Sugar Plum - Mullein

Verbascum 'Sugar Plum' is a brand new compact variety of hybrid mullein which stands out for the duration and abundance of its flowers. From May to August, if the soil remains moist, it erects branched spikes loaded with beautiful, large flowers in shades of light plum to smoky mauve with a small purple-violet throat above a rosette of downy leaves. It is an excellent perennial for well-drained soil in a sunny border or flower pots on the terrace or balcony.

'Sugar Plum' Hybrid Mullein, recently introduced by the American company Terra Nova Nurseries, is one of a new line of compact, undemanding, floriferous hybrids, with better longevity in well-drained soil. This plant belongs to the Scrophulariaceae family and is derived from Verbascum phoeniceum, among others, native to Central-Eastern Europe and the Middle East.

Sugar Plum will not exceed 40cm (16in) high when in bloom. Its growth is rapid, reaching its final size in one month. This perennial has a semi-evergreen rosette from which long branched floral stems emerge. From May-June to July-August it flowers in pyramidal spikes 30-40cm (12-16in) high, composed of numerous wide cup-shaped, mauve flowers with a purple centre, tightly packed against each other and opening randomly along the spike. The rosettes consist of flexible, elongated, wavy, dark grey-green, 15cm (6in) long leaves. This mullein is nectar-rich and loved by bees. This sterile variety does not exhaust itself by producing seeds, which means it will flower for longer.

Verbascum 'Sugar Plum' is a boon for 'impossible' slopes, where it will look good with valerians like Callirhoe involucrata, and stonecrops. Natural scenes, in slightly wild areas of the garden, can be transformed by hybrid mulleins. Plant them with dwarf foxgloves, compact Buenos Aires verbena, wallflowers, purple heucheras, blue lavenders, wild chicory, thyme or rosemary thyme, perennial flax or clouded cachrys (Cachrys alpina). It can also create a very beautiful flowerpot, with lobelias or nemesis for example.