Common mullein is a fuzzy biennial herbacous plant in the Scrophulariaceae (snapdragon) family native to Europe and Asia. Its distinct flower stalk can grow quickly to a height of 6 to 10 feet tall and is found growing in fields, roadsides, pastures, and waste places and has naturalized across the United States and Canada. The name Verbascum is derived from Latin word barbascum or "bearded", which describes the hairy stamens in species of this genus. The species name thapsus is in honor of an ancient village of modern day Tunisia called Thapsus. The common name mullein is Latin for mollis or soft in likely reference to the hairy velvety leaves. Rosettes of large silverly green pubescent leaves form at the ground in the first year and look similar to lambs ear. These low to the ground leaves remain evergreen even under cold conditions and can provide some winter interest to the landscape. Because this plant is a biennial, in the second year a tall flower spike of fragrant yellow flowers will appear, sometimes singular sometimes branching. The plant dies back completely after flowering but self-seeding occurs, though it is not considered especially aggressive. This plant prefers a slightly acidic to neutral pH well-drained soil and full sun., though it tolerates some shade While it can be found growing in a variety of soils it prefers dry sandy or rocky soil being quite drought tolerant with its fibrous root and large tap root. It does not tolerate wet soils, but it does well in poor soil conditions, tolerates deer and rabbit browsing and thrives in urban conditions. Use it in cottage gardens or as a vertical element of a borer. Because it grows so well in poor soils it does well on dry rocky slopes. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Spider mites are a problem in hot weather. Slugs and snails are occasional problems. Rich soils will result in needing to stake the flower stalk to prevent it from falling over. It can grow quickly and densely cover the ground out-competing native species. This weedy plant is listed as noxious in CO and HI.
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Soil texture
Clay; High Organic Matter; Loam (Silt); Sand; Shallow Rocky
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Occasionally Dry
Available space
12 inches-3 feet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 3 ft. 0 in. - 10 ft. 0 in. | Width: 2 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Rapid
Maintenance
Medium
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous (3-15 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Erect; Mounding
Texture
Coarse
Foliage
Broadleaf Evergreen; Semi-evergreen
Leaf color
Gray/Silver; Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Alternate; Rosulate
Leaf shape
Elliptical
Leaf margin
Crenate; Entire
Leaf feel
Soft; Velvety
Leaf value
Showy
Leaf size
> 6 inches long, 3-6 inches wide
Hairs present
Yes
Leaf detail
4 to 12 in. elliptical leaves are pointed at both ends and taper to a winged stalk; stems and leaves are densely covered with with woolly hairs; the first year the plant produces a large rosette of grayish green, velvety leaves; the second year it sends up a wand-like leaf stalk with alternating leaves. The leaves are larger at the base and get smaller toward the top.
Flower color
Gold/Yellow
Flower value
Fragrant; Long-lasting
Flower form
Raceme; Spike
Flower shape
Saucer
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
Dense cylindrical flower cluster, a spike like raceme, usually 1/2 -2 feet long with 3/4 inch, 5-lobed yellow fragrant blooms from June to September. The height of the flower stalk is indetermanate and can reach heights of 10 feet or more. The taller stalks bloom longer.
Bloom time
Fall; Summer
Fruit color
Brown/Copper
Fruit type
Capsule
Fruit size
< 1 inch long, < 1 inch wide
Fruit detail
Ovoid to rounded hairy capsule 1/4" splits open into two valves, releasing 100,000 to 180,000 seeds mostly very close to the parent plant.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Non-native
Origin
Europe
Wildlife value
Bees, butterflies, flies and other pollinators are attracted to the flowers.