Dark mullein

Verbascum nigrum

Dark mullein is a perennial for focal point, mid-border, suited to full sun and loam, sandy soil or chalk, flowering Jun, Jul, Aug.

Where to use it in a border

At around 100 cm, it sits best toward the back of a border, or on its own as a focal point with room around it. Give it about 45 cm of room to spread, roughly 2 to the metre when planted in a drift. It is hardy across USDA zones 5a to 9a and rated H7 by the RHS, so check it suits your area before planting.

It appears in our lists of full sun, sandy soil, chalk soil, pollinator-friendly plants.

Border Builder uses Dark mullein's height, spread, soil, bloom months and companions to place it in a full border plan for your own conditions, on iPhone and iPad.

Flowering through the year

Worth knowing

• Not recorded as pet-safe; site it away from pets that graze if that matters to you.
• Its flowers are valued by bees and other pollinators.

Good companions

Plants that share its conditions and style, chosen to complement its place in the border:

• American Wisteria 'Amethyst Falls'for height behind it
• Common Honeysucklefor height behind it
• Coral Honeysucklefor height behind it
• Cowslipto edge in front
• Harebellto edge in front
• Hawthornfor height behind it

Garden styles

Cottage garden Native Wildlife garden