For many Verbascum hybrids removing the faded flower spike and preventing the seeds from being dispersed works to trick the plant into behaving more like a perennial than a biennial and encourages it to come back year after year.

The second reason to deadhead your hybrids is because regular deadheading helps promote the plant to produce new side shoots from the main parent plant.

Next spring you may be able to carefully remove the small side shoots, or “pups”, as long as they have ample foliage and roots and transplant them to space where they can grow on their own.