Verbascum chaixii ‘Sixteen Candles’ seeds – ( Nettle-Leaved Mullein)

Description

Verbascum chaixii, ‘Sixteen Candles’ has handsome  leafy rosettes and from these come many -branched flower heads consisting of hundreds of bright yellow flowers, each one  of which has violet-coloured stamens.

It is an easily grown and statuesque plant.

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

The plant prefers full sun.

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.

Sowing advice

Sow direct in autumn approx. 2 months before 1st 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.