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Common Mullein, Great Mullein, Cowboy Toilet Paper, Flannel-plant - Verbascum thapsus


Family: Scrophulariaceae - Figwort family Genus Common Name: Mullein Native Status: IntroducedDicot Biennial Herb
Verbascum thapsus - Common Mullein, Great Mullein, Cowboy Toilet Paper, Flannel-plant.
Tall plant with woolly leaves diminishing in size as they alternately rise up the sturdy stem-stalk, which is terminated by a tight cluster of showy yellow flowers. Only a few flowers will bloom at a time. The stem is usually unbranched until the inflorescence.

Verbascum thapsus is a biennial, living two years. The first year it will appear as a basal rosette of the soft, fuzzy leaves. The second year the flowering stalk will rise up to 6 or more feet tall.

Verbascum thapsus is classified as invasive or an obnoxious weed in several states. It was introduced from Europe in the 1700s.


Found in:
AL, AK, AR, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, HI, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, MT, NC, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NV, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, VT, WA, WI, WV, WY, GS

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Check here for more information about Verbascum thapsus.
Verbascum thapsus

Distribution of Verbascum thapsus in the United States and Canada:
Map unavailable.
Map courtesy of The Biota of North America Program.
Map color key

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Site: Walker County, Ga Date: 2009-July-09Photographer: Gerald C Williamson
Common Mullein has a tight cluster of flowers in a spike terminating the sturdy plant stalk.
Verbascum thapsus
Site: Walker County, Ga Date: 2009-August-07Photographer: Gerald C Williamson
Common mullein, Verbascum thapsus, can be a tall plant, usually with a single stem terminated with a spike of flowers. The flower spike may be half the height of the entire plant.
Click on the photo for a larger image
Verbascum thapsus
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Verbascum thapsus initially published on USWildflowers.com 2009-08-07; Updated 2019-08-17

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All content except USDA Plants Database map Copyright Gerald C. Williamson 2024
Photographs Copyright owned by the named photographer



Code Update 20230302