Great Mullein
Verbascum thapsus
Also known as Common Mullein, Woolly Mullein, Flannel Mullein
Climate Match for your location
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Great mullein is a tall, striking biennial with fuzzy gray-green leaves and dense spikes of small yellow flowers. It thrives in poor, dry soils and is excellent for drought-tolerant gardens and naturalized settings.
Why grow it
Great mullein tolerates poor, dry, and degraded soils better than most flowering plants, making it useful for erosion control and stabilizing disturbed ground where other species struggle. Among tall biennials for drought-prone sites, it establishes quickly and requires minimal maintenance once established. Its dense flower spikes provide reliable nectar for pollinators across a long bloom period.
Watch out for
Mullein can self-seed prolifically in favorable conditions, so deadheading spent flowers may be necessary if you wish to prevent unwanted seedlings in adjacent plantings. In areas with consistent moisture, fungal issues on the foliage may develop; ensure adequate air circulation around plants.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Scrophulariaceae
Native Range
Mediterranean and Western Asia
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Harvest Season
Edible Parts
Season of Interest
Notable Cultivars
Verbascum thapsus is typically grown as a species; 'Southern Charm' and hybrid cultivars like 'Pink Domino' offer ornamental color variations, though the species is most common in wild and permaculture settings.
Herb
Soft non-woody plants of the field layer.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Propagation
Great mullein is a tall, striking biennial with fuzzy gray-green leaves and dense spikes of small yellow flowers. It thrives in poor, dry soils and is excellent for drought-tolerant gardens and naturalized settings.
Climate Match for your location
See how well Great Mullein grows in your area.
Enter your ZIP code and we'll show you how this plant fits your local climate.
Why grow it
Great mullein tolerates poor, dry, and degraded soils better than most flowering plants, making it useful for erosion control and stabilizing disturbed ground where other species struggle. Among tall biennials for drought-prone sites, it establishes quickly and requires minimal maintenance once established. Its dense flower spikes provide reliable nectar for pollinators across a long bloom period.
Watch out for
Mullein can self-seed prolifically in favorable conditions, so deadheading spent flowers may be necessary if you wish to prevent unwanted seedlings in adjacent plantings. In areas with consistent moisture, fungal issues on the foliage may develop; ensure adequate air circulation around plants.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Scrophulariaceae
Native Range
Mediterranean and Western Asia
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Harvest Season
Edible Parts
Season of Interest
Herb
Soft non-woody plants of the field layer.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Propagation
Similar herbs you might consider:
Enter your ZIP code to see top native species and strong climate fits for you.
Companion Planting
Plants well with
Notable Cultivars
Verbascum thapsus is typically grown as a species; 'Southern Charm' and hybrid cultivars like 'Pink Domino' offer ornamental color variations, though the species is most common in wild and permaculture settings.