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Plant ID - Verbascum or Weed?

NollieNollie Posts: 7,529
in Plants
I am growing verbascum from seed collected from plants in the verges, a delicate lemon colour most similar to a chaixii type. Or am I? I can’t remember what the leaves of the wild plant looked like now, but I don’t think it was like this!


Mountainous Northern Catalunya, Spain. Hot summers, cold winters.
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  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    That doesn't look like any of the verbascums that I know (I don't think any mine have the toothed/serrated leaf edges) but maybe wait until you get a flower? Google suggests Verbascum blattaria (moth mullein) has toothed leaves so maybe it's that one.
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • bertrand-mabelbertrand-mabel Posts: 2,697
    Agree with @JennyJ doesn't look like verbascums
  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190
    Looks like A Veronica to me. 
    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • NollieNollie Posts: 7,529
    Thanks all, I shall do as Jenny suggests and wait for it to flower. I don’t think it can be a veronica Lyn, I don’t have any in the garden or seen any locally. 
    Mountainous Northern Catalunya, Spain. Hot summers, cold winters.
  • NollieNollie Posts: 7,529
    I’m still waiting for my plant/weed to flower, mysteriously growing in the exact spot I sowed collected seeds from a modestly-sized chaixii type verbascum - lemon yellow with a splash of purple in the centres. Now nearly 4ft tall, soft, lush and hairless foliage.

    I know I’m being too impatient, but does this offer any more clues anyone?


    Mountainous Northern Catalunya, Spain. Hot summers, cold winters.
  • NollieNollie Posts: 7,529
    OK, turns out these ARE the wild verbascum seeds I sowed, but they have grown into giant, mutant versions of the ones on the verge! The soil is fairly poor and gritty there so this is surprising..

    Mountainous Northern Catalunya, Spain. Hot summers, cold winters.
  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
     Maybe there's more competition (grass and so on) or even poorer conditions in the verge. They are impressive though!
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • borgadrborgadr Posts: 718
    I'd be happy with that - I think they look great!  Looks like you stumbled across the perfect spot to grow verbascum!
  • NollieNollie Posts: 7,529
    I think you’re both right there. Shame I’m now away until next Wednesday. I will probably miss them in their full glory!
    Mountainous Northern Catalunya, Spain. Hot summers, cold winters.
  • Lizzie27Lizzie27 Posts: 12,494
    Don't worry @Nollie, I believe most verbascums have very long tap roots so are impossible to get rid of once you've got them! Certainly the cultivated one I planted and have been trying to get rid off for a number of years still survives.
    North East Somerset - Clay soil over limestone
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