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Verbascum blattaria

Moth Mullein · White Moth Mullein · White Mullein

Family ScrophulariaceaeGenus Verbascum

A cream flower with a purple center on a hairy green stem, buds above
FlowerSphlCC BY-SA 3.0

About the plant

What it is and where it grows — not part of any germination protocol.

Habit
biennialPlants of the World Online
Habit
Biennial, Forb/herbPLANTS Database
Flower
YellowFlora of China
Native range
Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Altay, Austria, Belgium and elsewhereGBIF Backbone Taxonomy

Toxicity is noted only where a source states it. No note here is not a finding of safety.

Sources: Plants of the World Online — Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; PLANTS Database — USDA NRCS; Flora of China — Wu Zhengyi, Peter H. Raven and Hong Deyuan (eds.); GBIF Backbone Taxonomy — Global Biodiversity Information Facility.

Worth knowing

  • Moth mullein is named for its stamens, which look like a moth's antennae. Brought to North America from Eurasia, it has become invasive, and Colorado has declared it a noxious weed, though Washington considers it insignificant as a competitor of native plants. Wikipedia: Verbascum blattaria

This source reports three treatments. All are shown.

Protocol 1

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty Low Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around April 6, 2027 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on April 5, 2026.

  1. Dry storage

    Duration: 360 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

    A shorter period at 70 or at 40 gave the same result; its length is unreadable in this scan.

  2. Sow on the surface — do not cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C Light: light

about 12 months from start to sowing. Then 5 days to germinate.

100% germination in 4–5 days.

Every seed, in under a week. Store it dry first: fresh seed manages 70%. A prior 3 months at 40 changed nothing.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, VerbascumPublic domain
Show the original text
Verbascum (Scrophulariaceae). V. blattaria requires light. Seed IDS m at 70 or 40 or DS 12 m at 70 germ. 70L(100% in 4-5 d) and 70D(3%), and aprior 3m at 40 had no effect. Fresh seed germ. less in 70L(70% in 1-3 w).
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Verbascum. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 2

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty Low Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around March 15, 2027 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Sow on the surface — do not cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C Light: light

No stated waiting before sowing. Then 21 days to germinate.

70% germination in 7–21 days.

Fresh seed in light: 70%, and slower. Dry storage takes it to 100%.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, VerbascumPublic domain
Show the original text
Verbascum (Scrophulariaceae). V. blattaria requires light. Seed IDS m at 70 or 40 or DS 12 m at 70 germ. 70L(100% in 4-5 d) and 70D(3%), and aprior 3m at 40 had no effect. Fresh seed germ. less in 70L(70% in 1-3 w).
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Verbascum. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 3

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty Very high Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around March 21, 2027 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on March 20, 2026.

  1. Dry storage

    Duration: 360 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

    A shorter period at 70 or at 40 gave the same result; its length is unreadable in this scan.

  2. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C Light: dark

about 12 months from start to sowing. Germination time not stated; 21 days assumed.

3% germination.

3%. Deno opens the entry with it: this plant requires light.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, VerbascumPublic domain
Show the original text
Verbascum (Scrophulariaceae). V. blattaria requires light. Seed IDS m at 70 or 40 or DS 12 m at 70 germ. 70L(100% in 4-5 d) and 70D(3%), and aprior 3m at 40 had no effect. Fresh seed germ. less in 70L(70% in 1-3 w).
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Verbascum. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

How each step is done, in Deno’s words, and what Verified and Derived mean.

Germination trials

Readers’ own records of sowing this species, published after review. Share your trial · All trials

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