Moth Mullein
Verbascum blattaria
Also listed as Blattaria vulgaris, Thapsus blattaria
Also known as White Moth Mullein, White Mullein
Climate Match for your location
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Moth mullein is a tall, slender biennial or short-lived perennial with distinctive pale yellow or white flowers arranged in a loose spike. It thrives in poor, dry soils and is valued for its delicate blooms and architectural form in cottage gardens.
Why grow it
Moth mullein offers a lighter, more delicate alternative to common mullein species, with thinner flower spikes and a less robust habit that suits cottage garden settings where sculptural restraint is preferred. Unlike heavier-stemmed relatives, it performs well in truly poor and dry soils where few other biennials establish reliably, making it useful for stabilizing marginal areas without soil amendment. Its pale flowers attract pollinators while the plant's biennial cycle means it typically self-seeds modestly rather than dominating a space.
Watch out for
Seedlings benefit from stratification or cold exposure to break dormancy, so autumn sowing often outperforms spring planting in most climates. The plant can take two seasons to flower if conditions are suboptimal, and flowering stems are relatively thin and may require staking in windy sites or rich soils where growth becomes leggy. In wetter climates, fungal issues can affect foliage, so good drainage and air circulation are more important here than in drier regions where the species excels.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Scrophulariaceae
Native Range
Mediterranean
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Season of Interest
Herb
Soft non-woody plants of the field layer.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Propagation
Moth mullein is a tall, slender biennial or short-lived perennial with distinctive pale yellow or white flowers arranged in a loose spike. It thrives in poor, dry soils and is valued for its delicate blooms and architectural form in cottage gardens.
Climate Match for your location
See how well Moth Mullein grows in your area.
Enter your ZIP code and we'll show you how this plant fits your local climate.
Why grow it
Moth mullein offers a lighter, more delicate alternative to common mullein species, with thinner flower spikes and a less robust habit that suits cottage garden settings where sculptural restraint is preferred. Unlike heavier-stemmed relatives, it performs well in truly poor and dry soils where few other biennials establish reliably, making it useful for stabilizing marginal areas without soil amendment. Its pale flowers attract pollinators while the plant's biennial cycle means it typically self-seeds modestly rather than dominating a space.
Watch out for
Seedlings benefit from stratification or cold exposure to break dormancy, so autumn sowing often outperforms spring planting in most climates. The plant can take two seasons to flower if conditions are suboptimal, and flowering stems are relatively thin and may require staking in windy sites or rich soils where growth becomes leggy. In wetter climates, fungal issues can affect foliage, so good drainage and air circulation are more important here than in drier regions where the species excels.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Scrophulariaceae
Native Range
Mediterranean
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Season of Interest
Herb
Soft non-woody plants of the field layer.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Propagation
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