Verbascum species....

[Paul T]

Howdy All,

I should know this, but the name has escaped me.  Which Verbascum is this?  The flowers are maybe 1cm across, opening for a day then replaced by others.  It flowers for a long period of time, sets seed freely, has large felty leaves and I just love it.  I would imagine that for some it could be a weed, but not for me as yet.  I also have a white one struggling along in a pot somewhere that I really should get into the ground so it does better.  I just love the furry little purple leggings on the stamen.   

Thanks heaps for the name.

[Lesley Cox]

Yeah, I know it too. Name has gone though.

[ashley]

Possibly Verbascum nigrum Paul. 
If so then take care as it can be weedy under the right conditions.

[Paul T]

I'm not sure it is nigrum.  I think we do get some V. nigrum growing wild around Canberra, but they are big plants, with a massive thick rosette of furry silver leaves aren't they?  If I'm getting the right impression from the online pics of nigrum.    The pics I see on google of it appear much larger.  

Mine has a basal rosette of leaves, but they aren't as silvery and furry as the pics of nigrum appear.  Rather than having a large stem that branches into many flowerheads, mine produces separate flower stems at the same time, which don't branch much at all.  The whole plant is probably 90cm high at most?

Thanks to you both for your responses.

[ashley]

Paul, V. nigrum isn't big & furry.  Its leaves are dark green & relatively hairless, flower spikes with only minor branches near the base and usually about 60-120 cm tall.  For some pictures see e.g. here.  

[Paul T]

Ashley,

That sounds much more like mine, but google obviously has a lot under nigrum that aren't.  The pics on google tend towards much larger, branching floral stems with the furry silvery leaves, which is why I was thinking it wasn't my plant.  Having now gone and checked reference books as well, you're spot on in your description and it sounds like that's my plant.

It's excellent to have a name for it.  I'm guessing my white one is just an "alba" form?

Thanks again.

[ashley]

I'm guessing my white one is just an "alba" form?

Or maybe V. chaixii 'Album'?

[Lesley Cox]

Or maybe V. chaixii 'Album'?

Which is a jolly good plant, fully perennial. I have one looks like the nigrums on your link Ashley, but the flwers are almost 3cms across. Any ideas. I'm getting rid of it because it has a billion seeds and they're getting everywhere. It seems to be biennial. Monocarpic anyway.

[ashley]

I have one looks like the nigrums on your link Ashley, but the flwers are almost 3cms across. Any ideas. I'm getting rid of it because it has a billion seeds and they're getting everywhere. It seems to be biennial. Monocarpic anyway.

No Lesley, sorry.  It took me a while to get rid of nigrum too, not only because of seed but regeneration from any deep roots left behind after weeding.