Rosie
ActiveVerbascum L. · Mullein
Rijnbeek Nicolaas A. M.
Cultivation
Cut flower suitability — Mullein
Verbascum L.
Mullein is characterized by low vase life due to the tendency of its flowers to shatter quickly. The use of this crop as a cut flower is limited to short-term events and requires strict adherence to the stage of inflorescence opening.
In the reference 4 varieties crop Mullein, where this is mentioned in the description.
Mullein has a limited vase life, with certain species, such as Verbascum blattaria, exhibiting particularly poor durability. The plant's flowers are prone to rapid abscission, which causes the stems to lose their decorative appeal in a vase within just a few days. Due to these biological characteristics, the professional use of mullein is most often limited to floral arrangements for short-term events.
The optimal time for cutting is when 50–70% of the flowers on the inflorescence are open; it is recommended to perform the procedure in the morning hours to ensure maximum tissue hydration. Cutting the flower stalks also serves as an agrotechnical practice to prevent the plant from becoming depleted by seed production, which stimulates repeat blooming from the basal rosette. However, the difficulty in determining the cutting stage and the lack of flower density hinder the integration of many mullein species into classic mixed bouquets.
General information about the subject — on the page Suitability for cutting.
Varieties of Mullein mentioned in the description
Selection based on the description text, not on official evaluation: these data are absent from registers. For specific variety details, please refer to its profile.