Self-seeded verbascum

I've never had a verbascum which self seeds. Aren't you lucky. do you know which one it is?

I'm not sure - I always thought it might be verbascum bombyciferum (love that name!) because it seems bombyciferous!! It is a biennial, and has been slowly but surely growing since last spring. Strangely, although I keep trying, I don't seem able to keep the perennials going. They do really well the first year, and then disappear. But I keep buying them and think of them as annuals because I love them so much.

Thats strange Mel as perrenials are usually the most reliable and easiest plants to grow. Do you cut them all down in the Autumn. I often leave some for seed heads for the birds.

I leave nearly all the perennials until the spring, the garden is pretty untidy over winter, but I guess that's why I get so many self-seeders. I believe verbascums really prefer a limey soil, and mine is neutral to acid. Maybe that's why. And yet I get the occasional self-seeded one. Yet another gardening mystery!

Is it vegetable or a flower?

It's a flower, though it doesn't look much like one at the moment! It has a strong, single spike, and acid yellow flowers that grow not unlike foxglove. It lasts for ages. I shall post a picture when it starts flowering --it is currently growing steadily! The first time I found one I thought it was quite extraordinary. As I said, it was a self-seeder and I had no idea what it was. I am so glad I just left it. As it's a biennial, the first year it's just a large rosette that grows bigger and bigger!

I always get just one - probably just as well!

I see. Please, send the photo once it starts to bloom.

Katarina - have a look at the third picture on my blog "Early August 2012". You probably didn't recognise it!!!