Mullein (Verbascum thapsus) is a common biennial herb with a long history of use by herbalists and foragers. Native to Europe, Asia, and North Africa, Mullein has spread across the globe due to its hardy nature and transport as a medicinal plant. It completes its life cycle over two years, making it a recognizable find in many temperate climates.
Visual Identification of Mullein
Identifying Mullein in its natural setting is relatively straightforward because of its distinct, fuzzy texture, which is present throughout its structure. The plant follows a biennial life cycle, meaning it displays two very different forms over its two years of growth. During its first year, Mullein appears as a large, low-lying rosette of leaves, often measuring up to two feet in diameter.
These first-year leaves are a silvery-green color and have a uniquely soft, velvety, and woolly texture due to a dense covering of fine hairs, earning it common names like “flannel plant.” The large, elliptical leaves range from 4 to 12 inches in length and remain close to the ground, often persisting through the winter.
In the second year, the plant sends up a singular, towering flower stalk that can reach six to ten feet in height. This stalk is lined with alternating, smaller leaves and culminates in a dense spike of bright yellow, five-petaled flowers. Only a few flowers open at any given time, blooming progressively up the stalk throughout the summer.
Where Mullein Grows Naturally
Mullein is a highly adaptable plant, thriving best in open areas that receive full, direct sunlight. It has a strong preference for poor, dry, and often disturbed soils, which is a major clue to its location. This hardy nature allows Mullein to colonize areas where other plants struggle to grow, as it cannot tolerate competition from dense vegetation or heavy shade.
Foragers often find Mullein growing along the edges of rural roadsides, in vacant lots, and in recently cleared or disturbed construction sites where the topsoil has been turned over. It is also common in gravelly areas, dry fields, pastures, and along fence rows.
Mullein is widely naturalized across North America, occurring in nearly all fifty states and throughout southern Canada. Its seeds can remain dormant and viable in the soil for decades, often appearing suddenly after an area has been disturbed by fire, logging, or construction. Although native to Eurasia and North Africa, its successful establishment makes it a reliable plant to locate, especially in areas with a long growing season and well-drained, sandy soil.
Purchasing Mullein Products
For those who cannot forage or prefer not to, Mullein is readily available as a commercial herbal product in several convenient forms. The most common commercial product is dried Mullein leaf, which is often sold as “cut and sifted” bulk herb for use in teas or as a smoking blend. Dried Mullein flowers are also available, though they are sometimes less common than the leaf.
You can typically find these dried herbs at health food stores, specialized herbal apothecaries, and through numerous online retailers. Mullein is also processed into liquid preparations, such as tinctures made from the leaf or root, and infused oils made from the flowers. These liquid forms are often sold as drops or capsules for easy consumption.
When purchasing Mullein, look for products labeled “organic” or “wild-crafted” to ensure the herb was grown without synthetic pesticides or ethically harvested. Reputable suppliers will clearly state the plant part used—leaf, flower, or root—and the species, Verbascum thapsus, on the packaging.
Responsible Foraging and Harvesting
Once Mullein has been successfully located, responsible foraging practices ensure the plant’s continued presence in the area. The large leaves are generally considered best to harvest from first-year rosettes or from second-year plants before the tall flower stalk fully develops. If leaves are taken during the second year, it is important to leave a significant portion of the basal leaves intact to allow the plant to continue photosynthesizing.
Mullein flowers, prized for making infused oils, must be collected during the summer when the plant is in bloom. Since only a few flowers open daily on the spike, collecting the freshly opened blooms often requires visiting the plant daily. Avoid harvesting Mullein growing beside heavily trafficked roads, industrial sites, or agricultural fields, as the plant can absorb contaminants.
To promote sustainability, never take every Mullein plant from a single location. Only harvest a small percentage of a patch and always leave the roots of the biennial plant undisturbed. This practice allows the plant to set seed and continue its reproductive cycle for future generations.