# Dark Mullein (*Verbascum nigrum*)

Dark Mullein is a tall, leafy plant with bright yellow flowers that bloom in the summer. It grows in sunny places and can be found in fields and along roadsides.

- **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low
- **Snaps:** 1
- **Habitat:** Grasslands

![Dark Mullein](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Verbascum_nigrum_02.jpg&width=800)

Photo: CC BY-SA 2.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Verbascum_nigrum_02.jpg)

## Appearance

The Dark Mullein has tall, slender stems that often appear dark or purplish. It features bright yellow flowers, each with a distinctive purple or reddish-purple hairy stamen that makes it stand out. Its basal leaves are wavy and dark green.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Plantae
- **Phylum:** Tracheophyta
- **Class:** Magnoliopsida
- **Order:** Lamiales
- **Family:** Scrophulariaceae
- **Genus:** Verbascum

## Interesting facts

- Bees and hoverflies love its bright yellow flowers, buzzing for nectar all summer long!
- Each plant can produce thousands of tiny, long-lasting seeds that wait for the perfect moment to sprout!
- Its scientific name, 'nigrum', means 'black,' pointing to its dark stems or flower parts!
- Its wavy, dark green leaves often stay flat against the ground in winter, ready for spring!

## Special abilities

- **Colorful Stamens:** Dark Mullein has striking purple-hairy stamens that contrast with its yellow petals, making it irresistible to buzzing insect pollinators.
- **Drought Buster:** Dark Mullein can survive dry spells by growing deep taproots, helping it find water others can't easily reach.
- **Seed Spreader:** Dark Mullein produces many tiny seeds, which are easily dispersed by wind to grow new plants far and wide.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 60-150 cm
- **Spread:** 30-60 cm
- **Flower Size:** 2-3 cm
- **Bloom Season:** Summer
- **Edible:** No
- **Toxicity:** None
- **Lifecycle:** Biennial
- **Pollination Method:** Insect

## Ecological connections

- **Pollinates:** European honey bee (*Apis mellifera*) — Visits flowers for nectar and pollen.
- **Pollinates:** Buff-tailed bumblebee (*Bombus terrestris*) — A frequent visitor to its bright yellow blooms.
- **Eaten by:** Mullein moth (*Shargacucullia verbasci*) — Its caterpillars munch on mullein leaves.

## Traits

- [Furry](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/furry): Furry describes animals possessing a dense covering of soft hair or fur.
- [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle.
- [Biennial](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/biennial): Biennial plants complete their life cycle over two growing seasons, typically forming foliage in the first year and flowering/seeding in the second.
- [Summer Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/summer-blooming): Summer blooming plants produce their flowers during the summer season, often providing vibrant color when many other plants have finished.
- [Medicinal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/medicinal): Medicinal plants possess chemical compounds that can be used for therapeutic purposes to treat illnesses or maintain health.
- [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors.
- [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals.
- [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms.

## Collections

- [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants)

## Safety

**Danger:** 1/5 · Very low

Do not eat any plants without asking an adult first.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Dark Mullein?

Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### How tall is Dark Mullein?

60-150 cm

### How wide does Dark Mullein spread?

30-60 cm

### How big are the flowers on Dark Mullein?

2-3 cm

### When does Dark Mullein bloom?

Summer

### Is Dark Mullein edible?

No

### Is Dark Mullein toxic?

None

### What is Dark Mullein's lifecycle?

Biennial

## Where to spot

- [North Carolina Arboretum](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/north-carolina-arboretum) — North Carolina, US · Botanical Garden

## More Plants

- [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*)
- [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*)
- [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*)
- [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*)

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Source: [Dark Mullein: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/dark-mullein)