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Verbascum only half opens

ightenighten Posts: 184

Not sure whats up with these but as the Verbascum (White Flush) flowers up its spike none of the flowers ever seem to open fully.. It gets full sun 80% of the day and otherwise looks healthy.

Posts

  • Outdoor girlOutdoor girl Posts: 286

    Bump. Someone must know the answer!

  • nutcutletnutcutlet Posts: 27,444

    I don't know why but I know what you mean. I had to google this one to see which species it is. It's V. phoeniceum. I have a purple one of this species and it's never made much of an impact. It looks as though it should but it doesn't.

    sad little flowers 



    In the sticks near Peterborough
  • ightenighten Posts: 184

    Thanks nut cutlet.. Taking your species name I googled aboiut and came up with this.

    Sometimes you will see what is called fasciation on Verbascums. This is where the flowering parts appear squashed or flattened, with the tops divided in two. No one really seems to know what causes fasciation, but it isn't a disease and is thought to be the result of one of a number of things: frost, physical damage by insects, a bacteria, temperature or a hormone imbalance. It is recommended not to propagate from plants showing fasciation.

    http://www.wildchicken.com/nature/garden/nature_200_134.htm

     

     
  • nutcutletnutcutlet Posts: 27,444

    Mine aren't fasciated, just patheticimage



    In the sticks near Peterborough
  • ightenighten Posts: 184

    Update on this.. Guy from the house at the top of the lane told me to drown them with a couple of watering cans.. 

    This morning they are fully opened.

  • nutcutletnutcutlet Posts: 27,444

    Interesting. Maybe mine will open now it's rainedimage



    In the sticks near Peterborough
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