Verbascum phoeniceum 'Violetta' | purple mullein

Purple mullein, despite its common name, comes in a range of hues from pure white to deep purple. Tall spires of flowers are held above a glossy green rosette of foliage. These beautiful plants are technically perennials, but they are very short-lived, rarely returning more than three years. Regardless, they seed happily around the garden and seem always to be in bloom. 

'Violetta' is a reliable purple-flowering variety with shorter flower stalks than typical, making it easy to incorporate into smaller gardens. 

We have found that glossy-leaved mulleins are not bothered by the mullein moth (Cicillia verbasci) as are their fuzzy-leaved cousins. 

Tip: deadhead after initial flower flush is finished to encourage quick rebloom.

Zones: 6 to 9 
Family: Scrophulariaceae
Type: Perennial
Height: 18 to 30 in.
Spread: 12 to 18 in.
Exposure: full sun to part shade
Soil Conditions: dry, poor, lean 
Bloom Time: May to August
Bloom Color: violet
Native Range: cultivar. Species is native to Europe, northern Africa, and Asia