Mullein Verbascum 'Southern Charm'

👤 Non-toxic to humans

🐾 Non-toxic to pets

🌸 Blooming

🍪 Not edible

‍🌱 Easy-care

ABOUT

The Verbascum 'Southern Charm' is an eye-catching perennial plant known for its spire-like display of stunning flowers. The blooms exhibit a charming blend of soft colors including pastel shades of creamy yellow, lavender, and peach, often with subtle purple veining. These flowers form a delicate cup shape and are gracefully arranged along a tall, upright stalk, presenting a tiered appearance that adds vertical interest to garden spaces. The foliage of 'Southern Charm' is equally attractive—basal leaves are large, oval to slightly oblong, and possess a velvety texture, providing a pleasant contrast to the smooth stems. The leaves are a silvery-green hue, which complements the warmer tones of the blooms. The overall appearance of 'Southern Charm' is one of rustic elegance and subtle color, making it a favorite among gardeners seeking to introduce a palette of soft tones and texture contrasts into their planting schemes.

Plant Info

Care

Common Problems

About this plant

Names
- Family
  Scrophulariaceae
- Synonyms
  Mullein, Velvet Plant
- Common names
  Verbascum 'Southern Charm'.
Toxicity
- To humans
  Mullein 'Southern Charm' is generally considered non-toxic to humans. There are no widely recognized symptoms of poisoning as it is not known to be a poisonous plant. However, as with any plant, individual allergies or sensitivities could potentially cause mild reactions in some people.
- To pets
  Mullein 'Southern Charm' is not known to be toxic to pets. It is not associated with poisoning symptoms in animals, therefore ingestion of this plant is unlikely to have serious consequences for pets. Always exercise caution and prevent pets from eating plants non-specifically meant for consumption, as individual reactions can vary.
Characteristics
- Life cycle
  Biennials
- Foliage type
  Semi-deciduous
- Color of leaves
  Green
- Flower color
  Mixed
- Height
  2-3 feet (60-91 cm)
- Spread
  1-2 feet (30-60 cm)
- Plant type
  Herb
- Hardiness zones
  5
- Native area
  Europe

Benefits

General Benefits
- Attracts Pollinators: Verbascum 'Southern Charm' is known to attract bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects, promoting pollination in the garden.
- Drought Tolerant: Once established, it has good drought tolerance, making it suitable for xeriscaping or low-water gardens.
- Low Maintenance: It requires minimal care once established, needing only occasional watering and deadheading to encourage further blooms.
- Ornamental Flowers: Produces beautiful spikes of purple, pink, or cream flowers with an elegant, rustic look that enhances garden aesthetics.
- Deer Resistant: The plant is not a preferred food source for deer, making it a good choice for gardens in areas with deer populations.
- Long Flowering Season: Provides a long bloom time from late spring to late summer, offering extended visual interest.
- Easy to Grow: It is considered easy to cultivate and can grow in a variety of soil types, although it prefers well-drained soil.
- Suitable for Cut Flowers: The blooms make excellent cut flowers for vases and floral arrangements, with a long vase life.
- Multipurpose Plant: Can be used in garden beds, borders, rock gardens, and as a specimen plant, offering versatility in garden design.
- Cold Hardy: It is relatively cold-hardy, making it suitable for growth in a variety of climates.
Medical Properties
This plant is not used for medical purposes.
Air-purifying Qualities
This plant is not specifically known for air purifying qualities.
Other Uses
- Mullein, such as Verbascum 'Southern Charm', can be used to create a natural dye from its flowers, yielding colors ranging from yellow to green depending on the mordant used.
- The thick, soft leaves of mullein have been historically used as impromptu insulation in shoes or gloves to retain warmth during cold seasons.
- The dried stalks of mullein can be dipped in wax or fat to create simple, effective torches for outdoor lighting needs.
- Fishermen have sometimes used the mucilaginous substance from mullein as a fish bait additive to attract fish with its texture and scent.
- Mullein's tall, strong stalk can be used as a natural garden stake, supporting other plants that may require staking or trellising.
- The fluff from mullein leaves and seeds have been used as a tinder material to start fires, as it catches a spark very easily.
- In traditional practices, mullein flowers have been floated in a bowl of water to create a simple but attractive decorative element for garden parties or events.
- The leaves of the mullein plant are sometimes used as a natural, biodegradable mulch to suppress weeds and retain soil moisture.
- Creative crafters have used the large, velvety mullein leaves to make eco-printed fabric or paper, transferring the leaf patterns onto the material.
- In some cultures, mullein was woven into funeral wreaths as a symbol of protection and love for the departed.

Interesting Facts

Feng Shui
The plant Mullein is not used in Feng Shui practice.
Zodiac Sign Compitability
The plant Mullein is not used in astrology practice.
Plant Symbolism
- Protection: Verbascums, also known as Mulleins, have historically symbolized protection due to their use in folk medicine and spiritual practices for warding off evil and disease.
- Health: With a background of being used for various medicinal purposes, Mullein is often associated with health and healing.
- Love: Mulleins have been considered, in some traditions, as a flower that could be used to facilitate or attract love, perhaps due to their soft and inviting appearance.
- Courage: In the language of flowers, Mullein sometimes represents taking courage, likely because of the plant's robust nature, standing tall and resilient.

💧

Every 1-2 weeks

Water

☀️

2500 - 10000 Lux

Light

💦️

Humidity

🪴

Every 2-3 years

Repotting

🌱️

Spring-Early Summer

Propogation

✂️️

As needed

Pruning

Water
Mullein, commonly known as 'Southern Charm', needs regular watering to maintain moist but not waterlogged soil. Ideally, water the plant deeply once a week, providing about 1 gallon of water each time for established plants. During periods of drought or extreme heat, you may need to increase watering frequency to twice a week. Young plants or those in containers may require more frequent watering, up to several times a week, depending on the weather and pot size. Ensure that the plant has good drainage to prevent root rot, and always check the top inch of soil for dryness before watering again.
Light
Mullein, also known as 'Southern Charm', thrives in full sun conditions. The best spot for the plant is in an area where it can receive at least six hours of direct sunlight each day. It can tolerate partial shade, but its flowering may be reduced in less than ideal light conditions. Avoid placing it in deep shade as this will significantly impede its growth and flowering capabilities.
Temperature
Mullein, often referred to as 'Southern Charm', prefers temperate conditions and can withstand temperatures ranging from around 20 degrees Fahrenheit to 80 degrees Fahrenheit. However, the ideal temperature for this plant is between 55 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit. It may survive light frosts, but prolonged exposure to temperatures below 20 degrees Fahrenheit can be detrimental to the plant.
Pruning
Mullein, or 'Southern Charm', should be pruned to remove spent flowers and encourage a second bloom. Prune it after the first flush of flowers has faded, usually in mid to late summer. Additionally, remove any damaged or diseased stems as needed throughout the growing season. The best time for a more thorough pruning is in late winter or early spring, before the onset of new growth.
Cleaning
As needed
Soil
Mullein 'Southern Charm' thrives in well-draining soil with a slightly acidic to neutral pH, ranging from 6.0 to 7.0. A good soil mix would consist of garden soil, compost, and sandy or gritty material to improve drainage. Fertilize lightly as the plant prefers soil not too rich in nutrients.
Repotting
Mullein 'Southern Charm' does not require frequent repotting and can typically be repotted every 2-3 years. It's best to repot when the plant has outgrown its current container or the soil has become compacted.
Humidity & Misting
Mullein 'Southern Charm' is tolerant of a wide range of humidity levels and does not require high humidity. It can thrive in the average humidity conditions typical of outdoor environments.
Suitable locations
- Indoor
  Place in a sunny spot with well-draining soil.
- Outdoor
  Full sun to partial shade; well-draining soil.
- Hardiness zone
  5-9 USDA
Life cycle
The life cycle of Verbascum 'Southern Charm', commonly known as Mullein, begins with seed germination which typically occurs in the spring when soil temperatures warm. After the emergence of the seedling, the plant enters its vegetative growth stage, developing a rosette of basal leaves. Over the first or second growing season, depending on conditions, Mullein produces a flowering stem that grows upward and is adorned with saucer-shaped flowers that can be purple, pink, or cream with attractive fuzzy stamens. Following the flowering period, the plant sets seed, the flowers die back, and seeds disperse to create new plants. As a biennial or short-lived perennial, after setting seed, the original Mullein plant will typically die, completing its life cycle. Some plants may live beyond two years in favorable conditions, but this is less common for Verbascum 'Southern Charm'.
Propogation
- Propogation time
  Spring-Early Summer
- Verbascum 'Southern Charm', commonly known as Mullein, is typically propagated by seed. The best time to sow Mullein seeds is in late winter to early spring, usually around February to April. To propagate, prepare a tray or pots with well-drained soil, lightly press the fine seeds into the surface without covering them, as they need light to germinate. Keep the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged. Place the tray in a warm spot with temperatures between 65 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit (18 to 21 degrees Celsius). Germination can take anywhere from 14 to 28 days. Once seedlings have grown large enough to handle, they can be transplanted into individual pots or directly into the garden after the risk of frost has passed.