We proudly research, grow, and write about our plants by hand. Descriptions are based on our experience as well as information gathered from reputable sources: books, periodicals, and select websites. Should you have questions beyond what is listed please email or call.

Verbascum 'Cotswold King' | Cretan mullein

Regular price: $8.99
Regular price
Sale price: $8.99

Shipping calculated at checkout.

Grown from seed in living soil without the use of pesticides, chemicals, or carbon fuels.

Available FALL 2026. Sign up for the waitlist to be notified when available for purchase.

'Cotswold King' has the largest flowers of any Verbascum we know. The fragrant, cheery, butter yellow flowers average around 2-inches in diameter and absolutely smother the bloom stalks from early to mid summer. These are nice compact plants - generally topping out at three feet high - making them easy to incorporate into the garden.

This politely re-seeding biennial is very easy to grow in full sun on poor, dry, well-drained, or average soil.

Cretan mullein is rarely encountered in gardens or garden centers. View garden images and a nice write up at Hanbury House.

syn. Verbascum creticum

Growers note: our plants germinated spring 2026 and are expected to bloom summer 2027. Plant in fall for best results.

Tip: Mullein is the foodplant of the mullein moth caterpillar, Cucullia verbasci (see last image), which causes unsightly holes in the otherwise attractive fuzzy foliage. Grow other plants around the base to hide the unsightly base.

Zones: 5 to 9
Family: Scrophulariaceae
Type: Biennial
Height: 24 to 36 in. (occasionally to 60 in.)
Spread: 18 to 24 in.
Exposure: full sun
Soil: well-drained
Bloom Time: June to July
Native Range: the Mediterranean

H12-d

4" pot

Special Characteristics

Snail Resistant
Short-lived
Self-seeder
Drought resistant
Deer-resistant

image credits

Auckland Museum, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Ordering information

Preorders

You may place your order anytime to reserve plants for fall 2026 shipping. If you place multiple orders, we will combine plants into one box (or as many as needed) and any extra shipping charges will be refunded.

We will resume shipping as soon as temperatures cool in our location and yours. This can range from the beginning of September for northern locations to the end of October for hot locations (Texas).

We will check in with you a week before shipping to make sure you receive your plants at a time that is convenient for you.

Shipping

Live plants ship in spring and fall only. Plants may ship dormant, depending on variety and season. Shipping costs are most reasonable when bundling like size plants.

4-inch: 1-6 plants ship for $15.00 / 7-13 plants ship for $18.00 / 14-30 plants ship for $40.00
1-gal: 1-2 plants ship for $18.00 / 3-4 plants ship for $25.00 / 5-6 plants ship for $40.00
trees & shrubs: $27.00-$40.00 each, height dependent
seeds: $6.75 or free with orders over $15.00

We regret that we cannot ship internationally or to the following states: AK, AZ, CA, CO, FL, HI, ID, MT, NV, OR, UT, or WA.

Nursery pick up

We will email you to schedule a day and time to collect your plants when they are ready in spring. Generally, plants can be collected from the nursery Monday through Sunday from 10am-4pm in Spring, Summer, and Fall.

Plant Sizes

We most commonly use the following pot sizes for perennials:

4-inch pot: 3.5" H x 3.5" W x 3.5" D
2-quart pot: 6" H x 5.25" W x 5.25" D
1-gallon pot: 6.87" H x 8" Dia (this is a true one gallon pot, not the smaller 'trade' one gallon pot used by many nurseries)

Check out our illustrated pot size guide here.

Representative trees & shrubs are photographed in their pots and posted on each plant page.

Sustainability

Sustainability is at the heart of what we do at The Old Dairy. We grow all of our plants outdoors without the use of chemicals, fertilizers, carbon fuels, or peat.

Many of our perennials are grown in the ground and dug upon order (this is especially true for larger sizes). This practice allows us to grow stronger, healthier plants using native soil, and ultimately reduces our impact on the environment.

Our open-pollinated seeds are collected from plants in our mother beds, which have never been treated with chemicals or sprays of any kind.

Read all about our sustainable practices here.