Verbascum chaixii var. album ‘Wedding Candles’ seeds – (Mullein)

Description

This Verbascum has pure white flowers with dark purple centres. Its flower stems are multi branched. It has neat basal rosettes of mid green leaves.

The plant prefers well drained soil, and dislikes wet heavy soils. It tolerates frost and drought once established. ‘Wedding Candles’ provides a good supply of food to honey-bees, and it will self seed. During winter protect with mulch.

To encourage repeat blooming remove the central flower stalk after initial flowering. Cut just above where the side shoots are forming with a sharp knife.

This plant  won a Royal Horticultural Society award of merit.

Sowing advice

Sow indoors in late winter and early spring. Sow direct in autumn approx. 2 months before first frost. Sow thinly into prepared soil. Once germinated thin to 45cm spacing. Can be sown indoors August – September. Surface sow into deep pots or root trainers filled with moist well-drained seed compost. Allow 3cm between seeds. Just cover the seeds with a fine layer of soil or vermiculite. Keep moist. Propagate 15-18°C. Germination takes 2-4 weeks. After germination reduce moisture allowing soil to dry out a little. When seedlings are large enough to handle transplant to 8cm pots. Acclimatise and plant out once danger of frost has passed with a 60cm spacing.