Verbascum

Mullein. Essential verticals for well drained soils in full sun. V. bombyciferum is biennial and hence a prolific seeder. V. chaixii is a much sounder perennial only seeding mildly. V. 'Gainsborough' is sterile. All are best cut back after flowering.

The long-lasting flower-spikes of mulleins are a huge draw to bees, hoverflies and other pollinators, while the fur on the leaves of many species are used by the wool carder-bee to line their nests. The male carder-bees can often be seen defending a good furry plant against all comers. The leaves are also eaten by the larvae of, amongst other species, mullein moth. The caterpillars are highly attractive in their own right, but, yes, they do eat holes in the leaves. Unsightly or natural art - you decide! We choose not to kill the moths: we wear the holes as a badge of honour, showing the world we are not killing the planet in our quest to produce a garden for all.