- Botanical name: Verbascum 'Firedance'
- Common name: Mullein
- Family: Scrophulariaceae
- Plant Type: Perennial, Deciduous
Red
Green
- Key features:
- Flowers
- Attractive to wildlife
Verbascums are stately, tall, upright-growing, border perennials that are ideal for adding height and structure to planting schemes. Verbascum ‘Firedance’ bears rich, copper-brown flowers flowers over a long season. It will fit into both bold-coloured and pastel planting schemes and is equally at home in the cottage garden or manicured border.
For best results grow Verbascum ‘Firedance’ in well-drained, neutral to alkaline soil in sun or partial shade. Cut old flowering stems to ground level to prolong flowering. Plants are the caterpillar foodplant of the mullein moth, Cucullia verbasci, which cause unsightly holes in the foliage. If possible grow plants towards the centre of the border so other plants mask the holey leaves, or grow wild verbascums nearby, onto which you can transfer the caterpillars.
How to grow Verbascum 'Firedance'
-
Plant size
1.1m height
45cm spread
-
Aspect
South facing, west facing
-
Position in border
Middle
- Sun exposure: Full sun
- Hardiness: Hardy
- Soil type: Well drained / light / sandy / clay / heavy / moist / chalky / alkaline
Plant calendar
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sow | ||||||||||||
| Sow |
J
Do not Sow in January |
F
Do not Sow in February |
M
Do Sow in March |
A
Do Sow in April |
M
Do Sow in May |
J
Do not Sow in June |
J
Do not Sow in July |
A
Do not Sow in August |
S
Do not Sow in September |
O
Do not Sow in October |
N
Do not Sow in November |
D
Do not Sow in December |
| Plant | ||||||||||||
| Plant |
J
Do not Plant in January |
F
Do not Plant in February |
M
Do not Plant in March |
A
Do not Plant in April |
M
Do Plant in May |
J
Do Plant in June |
J
Do not Plant in July |
A
Do not Plant in August |
S
Do not Plant in September |
O
Do not Plant in October |
N
Do not Plant in November |
D
Do not Plant in December |
| Flowers | ||||||||||||
| Flowers |
J
Plant does not flower in January |
F
Plant does not flower in February |
M
Plant does not flower in March |
A
Plant does not flower in April |
M
Plant does not flower in May |
J
Plant does flower in June |
J
Plant does flower in July |
A
Plant does flower in August |
S
Plant does flower in September |
O
Plant does not flower in October |
N
Plant does not flower in November |
D
Plant does not flower in December |
Verbascum 'Firedance' and wildlife
Verbascum 'Firedance' is known for attracting bees and butterflies/moths. It has nectar/pollen rich flowers and is a caterpillar food plant.
Attractive to Bees
Does not attract Beneficial insects
Does not attract Birds
Attractive to Butterflies/Moths
Does not attract Other pollinators
Is Verbascum 'Firedance' poisonous?
Verbascum 'Firedance' has no toxic effects reported.
No reported toxicity to Birds
No reported toxicity to Cats
No reported toxicity to Dogs
No reported toxicity to Horses
No reported toxicity to Livestock
No reported toxicity to People
Plants that go well with Verbascum 'Firedance'
