Hybrids bred for the home garden are not as invasive as the common mullein. The majority of mulleins grown in the UK are natives of Southern Europe and are mostly hardy in the UK. EdibleWildFood.com is informational in nature. A multi-purpose herb, mullein is credited historically with healing abilities from its flowers, leaves, and root. A location in full sun is preferable, but mullein will grow in light shade. Mullein is also a useful addition to your landscaping. Dark Mullein is also a food plant for the caterpillar of the aptly named “Mullein Moth (Cucullia verbasci)”, the noticeable black and yellow spotted caterpillars may also be found on other Plant species like buddleia and verbascums, before they eventually leave the host plant pupate and emerge as a moth. Common Mullein. The flower stalk grows up to 6 feet high, and the leaves grow up to 2 feet across. Verbascum thapsus, the great mullein or common mullein, is a species of mullein native to Europe, northern Africa, and Asia, and introduced in the Americas and Australia. Try growing a beautiful specimen in an area where bees can enjoy the blossoms, and birds can eat the seeds. It has soft leaves, and yellow flowers at the top of the plant giving this wild edible a very unique appearance. The thick, soft leaves are made into a tea to treat respiratory illness by loosening congestion and helping clear the lungs. Mullein is a woolly leafed biennial plant which is native to Asia, Europe and northern parts of Africa. Subsequently, question is, where does mullein like to grow? It can be found in all 50 states of America. The plant has a long taproot, which makes it difficult to harvest and nearly impossible to transplant. This plant has many different herbal uses. The root of the mullein herb can also be harvested, but opinions vary on when the best time for root harvest may be. When harvesting, be sure to use a spade and dig when the soil contains some moisture. The stem is hairy as are the leaves. The central stem of the mullein plant terminates in a dense spike of pale yellow flowers that generally measure anywhere from 5 to 60 cm (2" to 2') long. Click. Mullein is a soft (almost velvet-like) biennial that can grow very tall. Its leafs are fluffy and hairy (which can irritate the throat when drank). Olympic Mullein Introducing "One Thing": A New Video Series. A tincture (or an extract) of mullein alleviates this problem, although it is extremely bitter. It was used as a chemical substance, poisonous to fish. Mullein has been cultivated in large scales for centuries. It prefers full sun and dry soil. This dicotyledonous plant produces a rosette of leaves in its first year of growth. Image by Tomas Indrak. Mullein flowers provide a soothing and cleansing effect on the skin. Certain compounds in mullein's leaves and flowers are thought to act as demulcents or expectorants. In some cases, mullein is applied directly to the skin to help treat burns or inflammatory skin conditions. Mullein is known botanically as Verbascum thapus. Touted as an all-around safe herb, Mullein is one you will want to harvest, grow or purchase for your herbal medicine cabinet! Mullein in its second year is a tall, erect stem that can grow very high. In a tincture or syrup form, Mullein will supply your family with a natural assistant for these ailments. Each flower is replaced by a seed capsule with 2 cells, each cell containing numerous tiny seeds. It is an undemanding plant, which also adorn itself with impressive, colorful flowers. What: leaves, flowers. As a wash, they are an easy treatment for minor wounds and scrapes. Plant medicine is easy, fun and adds to your security when hard times come. I don't recommend smoking mullein. Known as Verbascum thapsus, this variety is a biennial plant that grows in fields and ditches. Mullein is POSSIBLY SAFE when applied directly to the ear, short-term. Mullein (Verbascum thapsus) is a biennial that grows in USDA hardiness zones 3 through 9. Mullein is an accurate indicator of a soil's contamination level. It is a biennial, spending its first year as a rosette of furry leaves, and producing its flowers in its second year, between June and August. A specific product that contains mullein, garlic, calendula, and St. John’s wort has been used in the ear for up to 3 days. In New Zealand Mullein is a naturalised weed which favours poor, stony, disturbed ground and dry soil and is often to be found growing on roadsides. It is one of the easiest wild herbs to grow, as it grows in soil that isn’t well fertilized. Mullein is considered an invasive weed in many states, but many of the 300 varieties are suitable to grow as ornamentals in home landscapes. Since the time of the ancient Greeks, this plant has been used for protection and healing. The plant is common to Mediterranean countries. All information, photographs and web content contained in this website is Copyright © EdibleWildFood.com 2020. Look out for a large, brightly coloured caterpillar covered in black and yellow dots. The spacing at which to plant Verbascum is dependent upon their size, plant small species with a spacing of 30 to 40 cm and large varieties 90 cm apart or … Its small yellow flowers are densely grouped on the tall stem, which bolts from a large rosette of leaves. How to Use Mullein The second year plant normally produces a single unbranched stem. The yellow, candle-like flower spikes of Great mullein can reach up to 2m in height, making this an impressive plant of dry and grassy ground, including gardens, waste ground and roadside verges. Mullein leaves are usually gathered the first year of growth, although the second year leaves are supposedly as effective in medicinal teas. It is a common wild edible plant that spreads by prolifically producing seeds, but rarely becomes aggressively invasive, since its seed requires open ground to germinate. Mullein is a hairy biennial plant that can grow to 2 m or more tall. Nutritional Value: medicinal. Many growers believe the root should be harvested when the plant's energy is highest, that would be the first year in the fall. The delicate skin of a baby's diaper area can benefit from a light layer of mullein balm. This biennial plant, Verbascum thapsus, was historically used as an herbal treatment for coughs, congestion, chest colds, bronchitis, and inflammation. Mullein is an easy-to-grow plant, often seen growing in fields and ditches. The distinctive, grayish-green, oval leaves are covered in a downy hair that is very soft to the touch. All varieties need sun and good drainage. Each flower is about 2 cm (¾") across and consists of five pale petals, five hairy green sepals, five stamens, and a pistil. The leaves are grey-green, fuzzy, and broad. The stalk and blossoms grow the second year. Clumps of … It prefers full sun and dry soil. The plant grows from 6 to 10 feet tall unless you purchase one of the new cultivars that reach only 5 feet. They are open to pollination for 1 day from just before dawn to midafternoon (Thompson, personal communication, cited in []).Branching of the inflorescence can occur with herbivory or clipping damage [87,89], and duration of flowering is a function of flowering stalk length. We are not health professionals, medical doctors, nor are we nutritionists. Although short-lived, they are easily propagated. Common mullein flowers are densely arranged on a spike-like, terminal inflorescence [59,78,106].Flowers are short-lived. The tall pole-like stem ends at a dense spike of yellow flowers. When growing Mullein outdoors from seed, it is best to sow in late summer or just before the last frost of spring. First year mullein leaves form a basal rosette, with large, velvety-like, long-oval, gray-green, leaves that can grow up to 50 cm long. In the second year, a tall flower spike emerges; it is covered in thick, alternating leaves. Add beeswax to the infused oil, and you have a balm that is a welcome addition to any baby's changing table. Some wild plants are poisonous or can have serious adverse health effects. As its other name implies, mullein leaves were once used as toilet paper. Mullein (Verbascum thapsus) is a plant that can grow up to more than 2 meters and it is easy to find around since it grows pretty much everywhere. Sow a small pinch of seeds about 18 inches apart and 1/16 inch deep in ordinary, well-drained soil, toward the back of the border or bed. All parts of this plant are covered with star-shaped trichomes. Mullein is a biennial plant, the first year growing as a rosette of downy leaves, and the second year sending up a tall spike with yellow flowers in Summer. E-mail: info@bcinvasives.ca Telephone: 250-305-1003 or 1-888-933-3722 Fax: 778-412-2248 Donate The impressive wild herb mullein is cultivated for centuries, it is native to Europe and Asia. It dislikes shade and wet soils. This dicotyledonous plant produces a rosette of leaves in its first year of growth. When it is grown as an herbal remedy, every part of the mullein plant is usable at different times during its life cycle. It can also be used to create a salve to help with wounds, frostbite and hemorrhoids. Expectorants are agents for stimulating the production or secretion of phlegm. How: both leaves and flowers as tea and smoked. Mullein (Verbascum thapsus) is a biennial that grows in USDA hardiness zones 3 through 9. Today I want to teach you about mullein, a common plant that grows pretty tall, about 6 or 7 feet. In-depth wild edible PDFs. nutrition, recipes, history, uses & more! Amy Jeanroy is an herbalist and professional gardener with several years of experience. The Mullein plant is native to Europe, the Mediterranean, North Africa and Asia, but is extremely easy to grow anywhere in the world. You’ve likely seen mullein plants growing in fields and along roadsides. However, this harvest time prevents the blossoms that normally appear the second year. Only a few flowers are in bloom at any one given time. The common name, mullein, comes from the German language, meaning king’s candle because of its scepter-like, candle-straight growth. In the plant’s first year, only a basal rosette of leaves appears. They’re often attractive, with tall spikes of yellow flowering rosettes. Where: dry, sunny areas. Widespread in meadows, desert scrublands, woodlands and pine forests, where there are sunlit openings from 3,000 to 9,500 feet. Although the leaves and flowers are edible, enjoying a cup of tea made from these parts is generally preferable. Its small, yellow flowers are densely grouped on a tall stem, which grows from a large rosette of leaves. Leaves and flowers. Abundance: uncommon. When: summer, fall. Water needs are low to moderate.  Description: This plant also has a very distinctive feel, a wooly, hairy feeling leaf. Mullein is a soft (almost velvet-like) biennial that can grow very tall. The crooked stalks indicate a high level of chemical contamination in the soil. Wild food can help treat various medical conditions. So many healing remedies abound in nature, and you can take advantage of them easily because mullein comes as a tea, herbal supplement, ear drop and more. I encourage you to grow your own medicinal herbs and learn to use them! Mullein is drought-resistant and grows easily from seed. Please click here for more information. It produces yellow flowers that grow at the tips of the 6-foot-tall stems. Mullein needs space. The most popular type commercially used … Growing Information Easy to grow from seed. This biennial plant is most easily identified by its soft, fuzzy rosette of leaves – big furry leaves which are jokingly called “nature’s toilet paper.” The tiny hairs on the leaves can be irritating, and any teas should be filtered carefully to avoid this problem. This was on of my Grandmothers favorite for all lung problems, tea for the children and Grandmother smoked it. Mullein is an easily grown medicinal herb, preferring less than ideal soil conditions, it's often found by roadsides and in areas considered to have waste soil, such as gravel.Mullein grows to be a tall, erect plant producing flower spikes that yield beautiful yellow flowers. The plant is found in many parts of the world, including the United States, and has more than 200 species. In Ireland, mullein was cultivated extensively, and it was even sold in the capital’s best chemist shops (and still is). Other Uses: dried stalks used for fire drills, leaves used as lamp wicks, Dangers: fine hairs on leaves can be an irritant. Depending on the summer weather conditions, this wild edible may not produce a lot of flowers. How to Grow Mullein Herb. Learn tips for creating your most beautiful (and bountiful) garden ever. Click, All listed plants are found in central-east Canada and A infusion of mullein flowers in oil is very antibacterial. If direct sowing in fall, cover seeds with a thin layer of soil (approx ⅜"), and if possible a layer of mulch. Blooming period usually occurs during the summer and lasts about six weeks. This variety does well in zones 3-9. Remove the flower stalk before the seeds disperse to prevent a widespread seeding. Identification, health, Mullein is an attractive flowering landscape plant with a rich history as an herbal remedy. Scientific Name (s): Verbascum thapsus. Mullein oil is also used in ear drops for … It is up to the reader to verify nutritional information and health benefits with qualified professionals for all edible plants listed in this web site. Scatter Mullein seeds when ripe in late summer and fall. Common mullein quickly spread across the United States and southern Canada because it grows in most environments that have an annual rainfall of 3 … Mullein prefers a sunny, warm, dry location, so preferably plant away from other plants which require daily watering. The plant grows from 6 to 10 feet tall unless you purchase one of the new cultivars that reach only 5 feet. This covering is particularly thick on the leaves, giving them a silvery appearance. While we strive to be 100% accurate, it is solely up to the reader to ensure proper plant identification. Greek Mullein can be direct sown in late summer or fall, started indoors in spring. These same flowers can be picked throughout the growing season, placed in olive oil and left to infuse. Greek Mullein will grow best with full sun and dryish, sandy to rocky, well-drained soil. Mullein needs space. north-east United States (zones 4-7), but do grow elsewhere. If, in late summer, you find a sorry looking great mullein striped of all its leaves it is likely to be the work of the larva of the mullein moth (Shargacucullia verbasci). Mullein grows in the wild, but if you harvest it there, please do so responsibly. Mullein is a medicinal plant and considered as an expectorant and antiseptic, thus used in … When looking for wild mullein, only harvest from straight, vigorous stalks. The second year, the basal leaves precede a stout, erect flower stalk. Here are some of the different types of mullein that you can grow in your garden. The resulting infusion is used for earaches that do not involve a ruptured eardrum. Mullein (Verbascum thapsus) is a prolific plant of European origin that grows abundantly in disturbed soils, roadsides, and meadows throughout most of the temperate United States. Demulcents are substances that calm irritation or inflammation in the skin or internal parts of the nose, mouth, or throat. To prevent mullein from spreading in the landscape, you need to remove the fuzzy rosettes that appear on the plant. To support our efforts please browse our store (books with medicinal info, etc.). Lightly cover the seeds once sown. Since it grows in several environmental conditions, the plants spread quickly in the United States. Leaves and flowers can be used in a salad. Great Mullein is an easily grown medicinal plant, it succeeds in most well-drained soils, including dry ones, and prefers a sunny position. It is a hairy biennial plant that can grow to 2 m tall or more. The three upper stamens are covered with white or yellow hairs, while the two lower stamens are hairless. Mullein Plants Verbascum thapsus Herb gardening for health with our large selection of medicinal herb plants. Where it grows: Prefers dry, sandy or gravelly soils. Mullein grows wild all over our farm – having them pop up in our side yard just makes it easier. Mullein was first introduced to the United States in the 1700s. The tall pole-like stem ends at a dense spike of yellow flowers. Mullein can be found growing in open fields, waste places, disturbed areas, railway embankments and similar dry sunny localities. Mullein root has also been used to treat urinary tract issues. The mullein flowers are harvested daily, as they open. Common mullein is a large biennial plant that can grow 5 to 6 feet in height. Mullein can reach heights of just over 2 metres. The ancient Europeans believed that this plant, if placed in a shoe, would protect from wild animals. The second year plant normally produces a single unbranched stem. 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Poisonous or can have serious adverse health effects is credited historically with healing abilities from flowers. Last frost of spring flowers as tea and smoked disturbed areas, railway embankments similar. – having them pop up in our side yard just makes it easier spreading in soil! Meadows, desert scrublands, woodlands and pine forests, where does mullein to... Indicate a high level of chemical contamination in the UK are natives of Southern Europe and.. Medicine is easy, fun and adds to your security when hard times come ve likely seen mullein plants in! And flowers as tea and smoked to Europe and northern parts of this plant has a long taproot, makes... Type commercially used … mullein is POSSIBLY safe when applied directly to the reader ensure! Are usually gathered the first year, a tall, erect stem that can grow to...