Verbascum olympicum - Olympian Mullein

Verbascum olympicum is a little-known but spectacular wild mullein that designers have embraced in natural gardens. It is an easy-going plant that can only be faulted for its short lifespan, which it compensates for by self-seeding. This mullein shoots up towards the sky with immense dense candles, laden with yellow flowers that bloom from July to September at head height. Even when dry and brown, the remnants remain decorative in the winter garden. They dominate leaf-covered stems covered in a beautiful light grey 'velvet'. It grows quickly, even in poor limestone soil, bringing an unusual, vertical note to informal flower beds.

Olympic Mullein belongs to the Scrophulariaceae family. It is native to Asia Minor and grows wild on Mount Olympus in Bithynia, not far from Bursa, Turkey. This species likes limestone scree and Mediterranean climates where it is more perennial than in regions with damp and cold soil in winter.

This plant will reach approximately 1.80 m (6ft) to 2 m (7ft) high in flower within one or two years in fertile soil, sometimes much less in very poor and dry soil. It develops a rosette of basal leaves that persist through winter. From this tuft of leaves, long, leafy, highly branched floral stems emerge blooming from June to September, sometimes November if weather permits. Its tall and wide pyramid panicles of yellow flowers have 5 petals arranged in open cups 2 cm (1in) in diameter, centred on a red to orange throat, tightly packed together and opening in groups along each spike. The flower spikes, stems, and leaves are covered in a thick light grey felt which can be almost white in very hot and dry conditions. The large basal leaves are oval to elliptical and those that line the stems are much smaller. This nectar-rich mullein is loved by bees. Although perennial, it often behaves like a biennial, or an annual, but easily self-seeds in light soil.

Verbascum olympicum grows in open, dry places and is a boon for sunny slopes and rocky soils. However, the plant will be much more decorative when grown in good garden soil and occasionally watered in very dry weather. Natural scenes in slightly wild areas of the garden will be transformed by mulleins. Accompany them with mullein roses, fraxinellas, linarias, wild chicory, nigellas, perennial flax, or wonderful purple fennel. They are good companions for baptisias and tall thistles, including artichokes and cardoons. It is best to surround them with perennials or shrubs such as catmints, hyssops, or veronicas, to fill the space when they are not in bloom.