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Grey leafed plant or weed?

Busy-LizzieBusy-Lizzie Posts: 24,043
in Plants
Does anyone know if this grey leafed plant, which has popped up out of nowhere, wasn't there last year, is a weed or a plant worth keeping?


Dordogne and Norfolk. Clay in Dordogne, sandy in Norfolk.
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  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    edited May 2021
    Verbascum aka mullein 

    Love love love them ❤️ 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    Usually biennial here but maybe as you’re a bit further south yours is flowering in its first year ... but those do look as if they’ve overwintered. 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190
    Liz, did someone give you some little plants once? 
    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • IlikeplantsIlikeplants Posts: 894
    Are the leaves furry? I have something similar if so.
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    edited May 2021
    Most verbascum leaves are furry. 
    They have a tap root and font transplant well in their second year. 
    Like foxgloves theyre self-seeders if they’re happy. 



    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • Busy-LizzieBusy-Lizzie Posts: 24,043
    They are in the Norfolk garden, OH sent the photo. As I'm stuck in France I don't know how furry they are. But there was a huge verbascum between the paving stones 2 or 3 years ago. I'd planted a penstemon in that corner about 2 years ago, OH says it's still there but buried between greater celandine and verbascum. I think he will weed them out. The huge one got covered in caterpillars.
    Dordogne and Norfolk. Clay in Dordogne, sandy in Norfolk.
  • FireFire Posts: 19,096
    I'm trying them for the first time this year. Do they get very slugged?
    The phlox has been razed to the grond this spring.
  • FireFire Posts: 19,096
    edited May 2021
    They are verbascum.

    Mullein moths love them.

  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    Sounds like the Mullein moth  http://www.wildlifeinsight.com/british-moths/the-mullein-moth-and-caterpillar/#:~:text=The%20yellow%2C%20black%20and%20white%20caterpillars%20of%20Mullein,caterpillars%20during%20the%20months%20of%20June%20and%20July.

    If he gets any unwanted new little verbascums pop up this year I’ll gladly take them off his hands ... I’d love some for this garden. 😊 


    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • Busy-LizzieBusy-Lizzie Posts: 24,043
    Yes, that's the caterpillar. They wrecked the plant, looked a real mess, started the attack just before we arrived. The plant was huge. Are you sure you want it?  :D
    Dordogne and Norfolk. Clay in Dordogne, sandy in Norfolk.
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