Identification of Flowering Plant

(Question)

This lovely plant was blooming n a garden on Manitoulin Island. I was sent the photo but didn’t know what it was – looked like a hollyhock but ??? Might you know It is truly lovely. Thanks for such a wonderful site

(Answer)

Thanks for contacting the Toronto Master Gardeners. This striking yellow-blooming plant is most likely a Verbascum nigrum or Dark Mullein. Some species of mulleins grow naturally in Ontario as wildflowers–they are not native plants; some are considered to be invasive weeds–eg.Verbascum thapsis. It is sometimes difficult to identify certain species of plants just from photographs; since this is growing in a garden on Manitoulin Island, it was no doubt planted for its value as a low-maintenance and attractive plant. For more information about this plant, please see the links listed below.

https://www.torontomastergardeners.ca/askagardener/mulleins/

https://ontariowildflowers.com/main/species.php?id=89