Verbascum undulatum
Care, watering, light and tips for Verbascum undulatum on Floravia.
Quick facts
- Family: Scrophulariaceae
- Difficulty: Easy to care for
- Watering: every 7 days
- Light: Partial shade
- Temperature: 10–30 °C
- Toxicity: Toxic to pets
About Verbascum undulatum
Verbascum undulatum, or Wavy Mullein, is a striking biennial plant characterized by its tall flower stalks rising from a basal rosette of soft, wavy leaves. Its spikes of bright yellow flowers, often with purple centers, add spectacular verticality and a vibrant splash of color to cottage gardens, sunny borders, and naturalized landscapes.
Native range
Iberian Peninsula and Northwest Africa
Care tips
It requires full sun for optimal flowering and well-drained soil, preferably poor to average, as it does not tolerate waterlogging. Watering should be moderate, allowing the substrate to dry out between waterings, and it is quite drought-tolerant once established. A common mistake is planting it in rich, moist soils, which can lead to weak growth and sparse flowering. Although biennial, it readily self-seeds.
How to save a dying Verbascum undulatum
- Warning signs
- Yellowish and wilted basal leaves, soft or drooping stem, lack of flowering or prematurely wilted flowers.
- First aid
- Check drainage. If potted, ensure no standing water. Reduce watering if soil is damp.
- What kills it
- Overwatering and heavy soils retaining too much moisture, leading to root rot.
- Can it be saved?
- Yes, if rot hasn't affected much of the root. Improve drainage and control watering.