This summer, you’ll be much more likely to see me out trying to capture different forms of verbascums on my iPhone than to see me playing Pokémon Go.
I added this one, Verbascum ‘Caribbean Crush’, to my virtual collection at the recent RHS Tatton Park Flower Show. The flowers open upwards as the sturdy spire lengthens, starting off a soft, peachy yellow, gradually deepening to a burgundy copper as they age. The effect is of two cultivars in one: very striking.
The verbascums were combined with those sweet, miniature red hot pokers (kniphofia) that seem to be everywhere I look at the moment; flat, creamy heads of achillea; and floaty purple verbena bonariensis. ‘Caribbean Crush’ would be a great choice if you like experimenting with colour combinations and don’t mind one plant stealing the show.
I often find myself gazing at the centres of the verbascum flowers. I can’t put my finger on what these ones remind me of – perhaps baby chicks with boxing gloves and boots? Don’t tell me I’ve found nature’s version of a Pokémon gym despite myself!
Susan Rushton 
I have ‘ t seen Carribean Crush before, it’ s gorgeous.
Flowers that change colour as they age always fascinate me.
Absolutely gorgeous, and thank you for looking for nature’s beauty and not the screen of a phone. 🙂
My pleasure! Though of course, I was doing a bit of both – looking at the screen of my phone while taking the picture!
simply gorgeous!
Thank you!
Oh my, how beautiful is that? I love all the various shades of colors in there all at once! Thanks for sharing it with us!
Me too – I think the flowers in the background help a lot too. I can imagine a textile designer making something out of this.
Incredible colours! It looks almost good enough to eat 🙂
You’re right – it’s almost unreal isn’t it?
Wow… I want! and now that you mention it, the centers do look awfully “lively”.
I’m a big fan of verbascum, but around here they’re so often dismissed as weeds. I don’t care though! and this one is exceptional 🙂
We saw small, spindly yellow verbascums growing wild in the grass verges near Mottisfont Garden the other day and I was so excited. I’ve never noticed them before, certainly not in the north west, where I live.
It is so very nice to come to your blog as always so much of freshness and flowers.
Shiva
Thanks Shiva!
This is beautiful. I’m not very familiar with verbascum but this is a wake-up call. Perhaps the Pokemon developers should have a version where players discover flowers instead of monsters.
Please, no – I’d be addicted!