Mendel’s Gardens

Verbascum phoeniceum

Purple Mullein

Family ScrophulariaceaeGenus Verbascum

About the plant

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

Habit
Perennial, 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 two treatments. Both are shown.

Protocol 1

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty Low Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around April 1, 2027 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C Light: either

No stated waiting before sowing. Then 4 days to germinate.

100% germination in 3–4 days.

Every seed, in three or four days, light or dark. One of the easiest things in the book.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, VerbascumPublic domain
Show the original text
Verbascum (Scrophulariaceae). V. phoeniceum germ. 70(100% in 3-4 d) and 40(38% over 3 m). Light had no effect.
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 Moderate Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around January 5, 2027 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Cold moist stratification

    Temperature: 40°F 4°C Light: either

    38%, spread over three months -- it germinates in the cold.

No stated waiting before sowing. Then 90 days to germinate.

38% germination in 90 days.

Cold turns four days into three months and loses two thirds of the seed. Sow it warm.

This source doesn't state how long.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, VerbascumPublic domain
Show the original text
Verbascum (Scrophulariaceae). V. phoeniceum germ. 70(100% in 3-4 d) and 40(38% over 3 m). Light had no effect.
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.