PlantFiles: Ornamental Mullein, Verbascum
Verbascum 'Southern Charm'

LOVE this plant...I get so many complements on it! Mine have lasted three years so far, in unpredictable SE Nebraska weather. Last year I did have three volunteer plants come up. My definite favorite - easy hardy and gorgeous!

I also wintersowed this last year with terrific results. They bloomed all summer in their first year from seed. Absolutely beautiful, some were pink, some purple, and some a coppery yellow.

I don't know about self-sowing. I have no volunteers coming up, and, according to all sources I can find, they are sterile. I couldn't find any seeds on my six plants, and I did search for them.

Of those six, they are all back this spring and starting to bloom already. This might be my new favorite flower.

Karen

Beautiful! Started easily from seed; I received many complements from neighbors and visitors about these plants...Will start more seed for this coming growing season. Very pleased.

This season I started many annuals and perennials using the 'Winter Sow' method of sowing the seeds in covered containers and placing them outside to basically fend for themselves through the winter. Southern Charm was one of those 'experiments'.

To my utter delight, it performed beautifully. Blooming profusely for me this first year. Since I sit on a line that straddles Z4b and Z5a, I have no idea whether 'Southern Charm' will survive our extreme (and unpredictable!) winter weather.

I believe the most positive attribute I can see in this plant is that it *grows* in soil nearly 100% sand...plus the colors of the flowers are strikingly romantic and sentimental. Like shimmering 'silk.' If I find seeds after the blooms have stopped I hope to save a few and WS them again.

I'm anxious to see my plants gain the stature of those in the pics posted here.

~julie~

Lovely plant!!! Really easy to grow as well!!

This was even more beautiful than I had hoped! Beautiful colors, graceful and long lasting.

I just LOVE this flower! It bloomed well the first year from seed, but this second year it's really out-performed all of my expectations. Not only did it come back bigger and better after a rather difficult winter and several late Spring frosts, but the bloom spikes are huge and covered in bloom. I can't recommend it enough!

I'm not to sure about this plant as of yet. Although this is zoned differently, here in Minnesota, it grows alongside of ditches on the back dirt roads, they are all one color, yellow and grow tall. The tag stated that this plant will sirvive -30- -40 degrees. 24 tall,18 wide. So i will take chance. I like the different colors. I also have a Empress Tree, not zoned for Minnesota, and one out of 8 grew, it's now over 12 feet high and growing strong!

Easily propagated by root cuttings as well as stem cuttings. I did not see that option in your propagation method list. Very long bloom time (Western WA's relatively cool summers). Beautiful and unusual subdued colors similar to those in an antique summer dress, as one neighbor commented.

'Southern Charm' is a hybrid strain easily grown from seed, with blooms of creamy antique white, palest melon, and dusky rose--all centered with smoky, purple stamens. Each blossom lasts just a day, but each plant produces multiple spikes for several weeks of bloom.

Often flowers the first year; after that, flowers appear in late spring and again in late summer if cut back to the ground after first flowering. Cut back the foliage at the same time to encourage new growth.

A short-lived perennial (typically 2-3 years), it will self-seed if some spikes are left intact, or can be propagated by cuttings in early spring. Should be situated in well-drained soil in full sun to part shade.