I’ve spotted a ton of mullein this summer. Once you know it, it’s hard to miss it.
Mullein (Verbascum thapsus) is a biennial plant that grows a low rosette of woolly leaves in its first year and a tall flowering stalk in its second.
Verbascum thapsus is widely known as common mullein, though it’s also often called great mullein, with both names referring to the same tall, woolly plant.
Year One
In its first year, mullein grows a low rosette of large, velvety leaves that have even earned the nickname “cowboy toilet paper,” though I’m not sure I’d try it.
Year Two
By its second year, mullein bolts upward, sending up a flowering stalk that can reach six feet or more. The stalk is covered in clusters of bright yellow blooms, which attract pollinators and stand out like golden torches in a field.
One of the most remarkable things about mullein is its persistence. Each stalk can produce thousands of seeds and those seeds can stay viable in the soil for more than 100 years, ensuring mullein keeps popping up in sunny, open places year after year.
Uses in herbalism
Mullein has a long history of use in folk and herbal traditions. The leaves and flowers have often been prepared as teas, oils, or tinctures, especially in connection with soothing the respiratory system. Some traditions also include smoking the dried leaves in small amounts to ease breathing discomfort.
The flowers, when infused in oil, have been used in folk remedies for ear discomfort. The plant’s soft, fuzzy leaves are also applied topically in poultices or salves.
Mullein’s large, soft leaves were once tucked into shoes as a makeshift cushion to help ease sore or tired feet.
Beyond their role as makeshift cushioning, mullein leaves carry a reputation in folk medicine for soothing discomfort with each step.
Mullein is one of those plants that’s hard to overlook once you know it, from its soft first-year leaves to its tall second-year stalks. Whether you call it common or great, it’s a resilient plant with a long history of practical and traditional uses.
As always, all information is for educational purposes and should not be considered medical advice.
About the Author:
Sabrina Halvorson is a journalist and author by profession, herbalist and forager by passion. In addition to her journalism education, she is a University of Minnesota Extension Master Naturalist, the North Dakota chapter coordinator for Herbalists Without Borders, and a graduate of the Chestnut School of Herbal Medicine. Sabrina is the appointed U.S. Country Director for the World Agriculture Forum, an international council of agriculture experts, and the 2024 Farm Broadcaster of the Year from the National Association of Farm Broadcasters. Learn more about her journalism and agriculture experience at sabrinahalvorson.com.
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