Mullein, Verbascum thapsus L., Naturalized Minnesota Wildflower plant, Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden, Common Mullein, Great Mullein, flannel Plant, Candlewick Plant, Hag's taper

(Great Mullein, Flannel Plant, Candlewick Plant, Hag's Taper). Here is a plant with a long distinguished history (see the Lore Page below) that yet attaches scant respect. It is doubtful that anyone actually plants it in their garden but hopefully a few would let it grow when it shows up. The plant tends to show up all over as it is most happy to colonize roadsides and disturbed soil. The tall stem, up to 6 or 8 feet high, is hard to miss and the prior season stem will persist well into the summer as the stems are very rigid. It doesn't help its reputation that it is a coarse plant, with wooly stems and leaves. The alternate, oblong leaves are quite soft and the lower ones up to 12" long, rarely with any teeth. The uppers are stalkless, the lower leaves stalked. The leaves spiral up the stem such that the shorter upper leaves shed water onto subsequent lower leaves - all to direct the water to the roots. It is biennial and grows from a basal rosette that sends up the flower spike the second year. On tall spikes you will notice the 5-part yellow flowers appear to open from the bottom upward in several spiral rows, in fact, each flower is only open for one day, then the one above opens. Two of the five stamens of the flower are slightly longer than the others. The yellow flowers can be up to an inch across. The genus name is from the Latin name for the plant, Barbascum and the species name is probably after Thapsus in ancient Africa.

	Plants of the Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden
	Common Name	Scientific Name	Plant Family	Garden Location	Prime Season
	Common Mullein	Verbascum thapsus L.	Figwort	Upland	Early to Late Summer
Other names and notes	(Great Mullein, Flannel Plant, Candlewick Plant, Hag's Taper). Here is a plant with a long distinguished history (see the Lore Page below) that yet attaches scant respect. It is doubtful that anyone actually plants it in their garden but hopefully a few would let it grow when it shows up. The plant tends to show up all over as it is most happy to colonize roadsides and disturbed soil. The tall stem, up to 6 or 8 feet high, is hard to miss and the prior season stem will persist well into the summer as the stems are very rigid. It doesn't help its reputation that it is a coarse plant, with wooly stems and leaves. The alternate, oblong leaves are quite soft and the lower ones up to 12" long, rarely with any teeth. The uppers are stalkless, the lower leaves stalked. The leaves spiral up the stem such that the shorter upper leaves shed water onto subsequent lower leaves - all to direct the water to the roots. It is biennial and grows from a basal rosette that sends up the flower spike the second year. On tall spikes you will notice the 5-part yellow flowers appear to open from the bottom upward in several spiral rows, in fact, each flower is only open for one day, then the one above opens. Two of the five stamens of the flower are slightly longer than the others. The yellow flowers can be up to an inch across. The genus name is from the Latin name for the plant, Barbascum and the species name is probably after Thapsus in ancient Africa.