Verbascum 39banana custard39 is perfect for the back of the border where it strives to outshine other plants with it39s height and presence the foliage is grey45green and makes a fitting backdrop to the tall spikes of summer flowering vibrant yellowblooms which flower arrangers love pollinating insects are pretty keenon themtoo although verbascum phlomoides 39banana custard39 is a hardy perennial it39s short lived so is oftengrown asa biennial butthat39s not the