Mendel’s Gardens

Verbascum blattaria

Moth Mullein

Family ScrophulariaceaeGenus Verbascum

About the plant

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

Habit
Biennial, Forb/herb

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

Source: PLANTS Database — USDA NRCS.

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.