A fuzzy-leaved biennial that grows in pooor sandy soils or in cracks in New England rock walls, as above! Can get up to 9′ tall in full sun.

Mullien – Verbascum thapsus

Family: Figwort

Applications: Tea of leaf and flower harvested when flowers are in bloom. Strain infusion well to remove small hairs on the leaf. Coffee filter works well. Leaf poultice for boils and sores, and on areas with ligament damage. Oil infusion of flowers for ear ache and congestion, and as a rub for rheumatic joints.

Basal Rosette of Mullein’s first year.

Uses: chest colds, asthma, bronchitis, coughs, kidney infections, insomnia, acid urine.

Actions: expectorant, demulcent, antispasmodic, diuretic.

Constituents: Saponins, mucilage, gum, volatile oils, flavonoids, glycosides such as aucubin.

Mullein inflorescence in bud, end of July.

Mullein blossoming.

Dried stalk of Mullein.

Olympic Mullein – multiple branching. Deb Soule uses this type as the harvest is 10-fold Verbascum thapsus.