# mulleins (*Verbascum*) Mulleins are tall plants with soft, fuzzy leaves and bright yellow flowers. They grow in sunny places and can be found in fields and along roadsides, waving gently in the breeze. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Grasslands ![mulleins](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Verbascum_densiflorum_'dense-flowered_mullein'_2007-06-02_%28plant%29.jpg&width=800) Photo: Magnus Manske, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Verbascum_densiflorum_'dense-flowered_mullein'_2007-06-02_%28plant%29.jpg) ## Appearance The mulleins has a strikingly tall, straight flower stalk covered in numerous small, five-petaled yellow flowers. Its large, velvety-soft, grey-green leaves form a dense rosette at the base, making it look quite distinct from other tall weeds. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Lamiales - **Family:** Scrophulariaceae - **Genus:** Verbascum ## Interesting facts - A single mullein plant can produce hundreds of thousands of tiny seeds! - Ancient Romans dipped mullein stalks in tallow to make torches for light! - Its scientific name \*Verbascum\* might come from Latin for 'beard' because of its fuzzy leaves! - Mullein flowers are sometimes used to make a natural yellow dye for fabrics! ## Special abilities - **Velvet Water Shield:** Mulleins has thick, fuzzy leaves that trap moisture and protect it from drying winds and thirsty herbivores. - **Towering Seed Spreader:** Its incredibly tall stalk lifts seeds high, allowing wind to carry them far away to new growing spots. - **Seed Time Capsule:** Mulleins seeds can stay alive in the soil for decades, waiting for the perfect moment to sprout. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 50-250 cm - **Spread:** 30-60 cm - **Flower Size:** 1-3 cm - **Bloom Season:** Summer to early fall - **Edible:** Yes - **Toxicity:** None - **Lifecycle:** Biennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** Honey Bee (*Apis mellifera*) — collects nectar and pollen - **Pollinates:** [Common Eastern Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-eastern-bumble-bee) (*Bombus impatiens*) — visits flowers for nectar - **Eaten by:** Mullein Moth (*Cucullia verbasci*) — larvae feed on leaves ## Traits - [Furry](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/furry): Furry describes animals possessing a dense covering of soft hair or fur. - [Aromatic](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aromatic): Aromatic plants produce and emit fragrant volatile organic compounds, often for defense or to attract pollinators. - [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. - [Edible](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/edible): Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption. - [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 Always look but don't touch wild plants unless an adult says it's okay. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify mulleins? 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 mulleins? 50-250 cm ### How wide does mulleins spread? 30-60 cm ### How big are the flowers on mulleins? 1-3 cm ### When does mulleins bloom? Summer to early fall ### Is mulleins edible? Yes ### Is mulleins toxic? None ### What is mulleins's lifecycle? Biennial ## Where to spot - [Garten der Sinne (Merzig)](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/garten-der-sinne-merzig) — Saarland, DE · Park ## 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*) --- Source: [Mulleins: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/mulleins)