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Verbascum Sugar Plum

Verbascum x 'Sugar Plum'

Nature Hills Nursery
$4996
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Plant Size

Planting & Care

Where to Plant

  • Sunlight: Give your Sugar Plum at least six hours of direct sun daily to ensure the darkest purple blooms and sturdy stems. While it tolerates partial shade, you will likely see fewer flower spikes and a more "stretched" appearance as the plant reaches for light.
  • Soil: These plants crave sharp drainage and actually prefer leaner, gravelly soils over rich, heavy garden beds. If you have heavy clay, plant them in a raised bed or incorporate grit to prevent the roots from sitting in water, which leads to rot.

Watering Requirements

During the first growing season, water twice a week to help the deep taproot establish itself in your soil. Once mature, Sugar Plum is remarkably drought tolerant and only needs a drink during prolonged dry spells. Avoid overwatering or overhead irrigation, as soggy soil or wet foliage can cause the crown to rot or invite fungal spots.

Pruning Tips

This variety blooms on new growth, so you should remove the spent flower spikes as soon as the color fades to encourage a second flush of blooms. Think of it like a haircut that redirects the plant's energy from making seeds back into making flowers. In late autumn or early spring, simply clear away any dead or tattered foliage from the base to keep the crown clean for new growth.

Fertilizer Needs

Apply a light logic of balanced, slow release fertilizer once in early spring as the new leaves emerge. Avoid high nitrogen fertilizers late in the summer, because this produces soft, lush growth that is easily damaged by the first frost. These plants are modest eaters, so one application is usually all they need to power through the blooming season.

Delivery and Shipping

Preorder Shipping Schedule

We ship your plants when it's safe to transport them to your zone. Dates are estimated and subject to weather delays.

Zone 3-4 Week of March 30th
Zone 5 Week of March 16th
Zone 6-12 Week of March 2nd


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Under $50 $9.99
$50 - $99.99 $14.99
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$150 - $198.99 $24.99
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Vivaciously Blooming Verbascum Sugar Plum

  • Plum Colored Bloom Spikes
  • Summer Reblooming
  • Pollinator Friendly
  • Deer and Drought Tolerant

Abundant, early Spring flowers top the dwarf reblooming perennial, Sugar Plum Verbascum (Verbascum 'Sugar Plum'). Also known as Sugar Plum "Mullein," large, plum colored blooms cover numerous spikes protruding above the compact, yet lovely, green foliage.

Reaching a height of just 15 inches, the Sugar Plum packs a big punch in a small package. The clear plum flowers emerge early in the season, and while each individual flower does not last a long time, the numerous flowers it produces continue its fresh bloom appearance over a long period.

The bloom period can be prolonged all the way to the end of Summer by deadheading the spent flowers, before they set seed.

Verbascum Sugar Plum prefers full sun and well-drained soils for best results. It's frost and drought tolerant once established.

Pollinators like hummingbirds, bees, and butterflies will flock to your Sugar Plums, just like your plant-loving neighbors will do when they see the blooms! Deer generally do not bother with the plant.

The Sugar Plum is perfect for small gardens for sunny borders. Try them in containers around your patio, or even in your gravel or rock garden. They make lovely cut flowers for a home bouquet!

If you're looking for a petite, reblooming perennial, give the Verbascum Sugar Plum a try today!

Growing Zones 5-9

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Frequently Asked Questions

What USDA hardiness zones is Verbascum 'Sugar Plum' suitable for?
  • Verbascum 'Sugar Plum' thrives in USDA hardiness zones 5-9. This frost-tolerant perennial handles cold winters well once established. Plant in full sun with well-drained soil for best cold hardiness and blooming performance.

What is the mature height and width of Verbascum 'Sugar Plum'?
  • Verbascum 'Sugar Plum' reaches a compact mature height of 15 inches with a similar spread. This dwarf reblooming perennial works perfectly in small spaces, containers, or front borders where you need controlled size with big color impact.

Does Verbascum 'Sugar Plum' grow well in my planting zone (e.g., zone 4 or 9)?
  • Verbascum 'Sugar Plum' thrives in zones 5-9 with proper drainage. This drought-tolerant perennial handles frost once established but may struggle in extreme cold below zone 5. Plant in full sun with well-draining soil for best results.

Does Verbascum 'Sugar Plum' need full sun or can it tolerate partial shade?
  • Verbascum Sugar Plum needs full sun for optimal blooming and performance. While it may tolerate some light shade, you'll get the best flower production and compact 15-inch growth habit in a sunny location with well-drained soil.

How do I care for Verbascum 'Sugar Plum' after planting, including watering?
  • Sugar Plum Verbascum thrives in full sun with well-drained soil and requires minimal care once established. Water regularly the first season, then reduce watering as it becomes drought tolerant. Deadhead spent blooms to extend flowering through summer. Find this low-maintenance perennial at naturehills.com.

Will Verbascum 'Sugar Plum' require staking or support in fertile soil?
  • Verbascum 'Sugar Plum' reaches only 15 inches tall with a compact growth habit, so it won't require staking even in fertile soil. The sturdy flower spikes are naturally proportioned to the plant's dwarf size. Plant in well-drained soil with full sun for best structural integrity.

How do I deadhead Verbascum 'Sugar Plum' to prolong blooming?
  • Remove spent flower spikes before they set seed to extend blooming through late summer. Cut the entire spike back to the base once most flowers have faded. This encourages the plant to produce new bloom spikes rather than putting energy into seed production.

Is Verbascum 'Sugar Plum' deer resistant and pest tolerant?
  • Verbascum 'Sugar Plum' is naturally deer resistant, as deer generally avoid bothering with this plant. It's also quite pest tolerant once established, thriving in challenging conditions. Plant in full sun with well-drained soil for best pest resistance.

Can Verbascum 'Sugar Plum' be grown in containers?
  • Yes, Verbascum 'Sugar Plum' grows excellently in containers due to its compact 15-inch height. The dwarf size makes it perfect for patio containers where you can enjoy the plum-colored blooms up close. Ensure your container has good drainage and place it in full sun for best flowering results.
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