Grow Mullein for Bees and Medicine

It’s a weed! It’s a bee beacon! It’s a medicinal herb! All three claims can be made for multi-talented mulleins (Verbascum). Mostly native to southern Europe, mulleins have made homes for themselves in every corner of the world. Resistant to nibbling by deer and other animals, they often settle in any open area, with seeds spread by birds and wind to roadsides and gardens.

All mulleins are listed as Plants for Pollinators by the Royal Horticultural Society, with over 30 insects known to make use of the leaves or flowers. Most mulleins are biennials that grow from seed their first year, bloom in their second summer and then die. But not all mulleins are alike. Of the more than 400 Verbascum species known, the ones that have gained acceptance by gardeners is a short list.

Must-Grow Mullein Species

Common mullein (Verbascum thapsus) is the familiar upright species that grows to 6 feet (2 m) tall. It also has the double distinction of being the weediest mullein, and the best one to use for medicinal purposes.

Nettle-leafed mullein (Verbascum chaixii) is a smaller plant that tops out at 3 feet (1 m) when it’s in full bloom in early summer. Plants sometimes bloom their first year from seed, with stronger flowering in their second summer, after which they die. Flower color may be yellow or white, with fuzzy magenta stamens. The plants are strong reseeders in hospitable sites.

Purple mullein (V. phoeniceum) has lighter textured foliage, grows to less than 3 feet (1 m) tall in full flower, and blooms in shades of purple and pink. Popular cultivars like Shades of Summer, Violetta and Katie’s Candles often perennialize, and they make great cottage garden flowers.

Medicinal Uses for Mullein

Since before the time of Pliny the Elder (77 AD), mullein has been used as medicine to loosen and liberate the lungs from various ailments, and to reduce inflammation from arthritis. Recently a team of Spanish scientists studied how mullein is used in Spanish folk medicine and then analyzed leaf tissues of several species to learn about their bioactive compounds. They found that mullein is most often used to relieve respiratory conditions due to cold, cough, asthma or bronchitis, often through infusions, macerations, or syrup, with mint, rosemary and honey or sugar added for flavor.

The scientists were so impressed with the array of flavonoids and other compounds in common mullein that they think it could inspire the design of improved drugs. Why wait? Simply dry a supply of mullein leaves for teas, syrups or tinctures to help you breathe easier in times of trouble.

Harvesting and Drying Mullein

You can harvest and dry healthy mullein leaves taken from the midsections of mature plants that have just begun to flower, or you can let new seedlings grow through summer, and harvest their leaves in early fall. Avoid gathering mullein from busy roadsides where the plants are exposed to excessive dirt and pollutants.

Clean the harvested mullein leaves by wiping them with a damp cloth. To speed drying, use a sharp knife to remove the central leaf vein and cut the leaves into wide strips. Whether they are dried at room temperature or in a dehydrator set at very low heat, mullein leaves tend to curl as they dry. Make sure the pieces are dried to crisp before storing them in an airtight container in a cool, dark place. To retain potency, wait until you are ready to use dried mullein to crumble the leaves.

Mullein as a Weed

Common mullein is definitely a weed, albeit a highly specialized one. It appears in disturbed sites, usually from seeds already present in the soil. The seeds wait until space is cleared, cultivated, burned or overgrazed to germinate and grow. This is why we often see plants pop up along the edges of our gardens, where we may allow a few to stay as proud bee weeds.

In most disturbed sites, mullein plants form a temporary colony that persists for three or four years, and then dies out as other vegetation takes over. During that time, the deep taproots penetrate the subsoil and bring nutrients to the surface, creating more fertile conditions for more long-lived plants.

If you need to control mullein as a weed, young plants are easily recognized by their rosette of gray felted leaves. They can be dispatched with a single cut with a shovel made just below the ground. Mature plants that are relieved of their seed spikes pose no further threat, because the plants die as the growing season ends. In winter, the dried seed spikes make good fireplace kindling.

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Verbascum Grow Guide