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Scrophulariaceae FAMILY

Verbascum pulverulentum

Verbascum pulverulentum

Edibility
0/5
Medicinal
1/5

Safety & Hazards

The leaves contain rotenone and coumarin, though the quantities are not given[1]. Rotenone is used as an insecticide and coumarin can prevent the blood from clotting[PFAF]. Hairs on the leaves can act as an irritant[1].

Cultivation Details

HabitBiennial
Growth—

Succeeds in most well-drained soils, including dry ones, and prefers a sunny position[2]. Dislikes shade and wet soils[2]. Thrives on chalk[2]. Prefers a light soil[2]. Hybridizes with other members of this genus, though the progeny are usually sterile[2].

Propagation

Seed - sow late spring to early summer in a cold frame and only just cover the seed[2]. Germination usually takes place within 2 - 3 weeks. When they are large enough to handle, prick out the seedlings into individual pots and plant them out in late summer. The seed has a long viability[2]. Cite as: Temperate Plants Database, Ken Fern. temperate.theferns.info. 2026-02-21. <temperate.theferns.info/plant/Verbascum+pulverulentum>

Pollinators

Flies, Lepidoptera, Self

References

  1. [1]A Field Guide to Medicinal Plants. Eastern and Central N. America. — Foster. S. & Duke. J. A. · Houghton Mifflin Co. · 1990 · ISBN 0395467225 ↩︎A concise book dealing with almost 500 species. A line drawing of each plant is included plus colour photographs of about 100 species. Very good as a field guide, it only gives brief details about the plants medicinal properties.
  2. [2]The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. — Huxley. A. · MacMillan Press · 1992 · ISBN 0-333-47494-5 ↩︎Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
  3. [3]Flora of the British Isles. — Clapham, Tutin and Warburg. · Cambridge University Press · 1962 · ISBN - ↩︎A very comprehensive flora, the standard reference book but it has no pictures.
  4. [4]A Modern Herbal. — Grieve. · Penguin · 1984 · ISBN 0-14-046-440-9 ↩︎Not so modern (1930's?) but lots of information, mainly temperate plants.
  5. [PFAF]Plants for a Future — pfaf.org ↩︎