Also called common mullein and woolly mullein, this native of Europe, Africa and Asia, is a herbaceous biennial and a member of the figwort family, Scrophulariaceae, that also includes butterfly bush, snapdragon, and bacopa. The plant develops a deep tap root and in the first year produces a basal rosette of silvery green, velvety leaves that are 4-12″ long and evergreen. In the second year the plant produces a single, occasionally branched, stem 3-10′ tall with similar but smaller leaves. In summer, the stem bears a dense terminal raceme of fragrant, 5-lobed yellow flowers. The flowers are 3/4″ across, bloom irregularly from bottom to top over a long bloom time, and are attractive to butterflies and other pollinators. The fruit is a rounded capsule that splits into two valves at maturity to release up to 400 seeds. As a result, great mullein may become weedy. The genus name, Verbascum, may be related to the Latin word barbatus, meaning bearded and referring the the hairiness of the leaves. The specific epithet, thapsus, refers to ancient city of Thapsos (or Thapsus) in Sicily, where the plant was thought to have been commonly found.
Type: Herbaceous biennial
Bloom: Dense terminal raceme of 5-lobed, fragrant, yellow flowers in summer over a long bloom period
Size: 3-10′ H x 2-3′ W
Light: Full sun; tolerates some shade
Soil: Average to lean, dry sandy or rocky, well-drained
USDA Hardiness: Zones 3-9
Care: May need staking; can become weedy
Pests and Diseases: Slugs, snails, spider mites, powdery mildew and fungal leaf spot
Propagation: Seed
Companion Plants: Russian sage, ornamental grasses, coneflower
Photo Credit: Wikipedia
Karen