Verbascum thapsus

Verbascum thapsus growing herbaceous of the genus Verbascum also known as Great mullein or Common mullein, Verbascum thapsus biennial plant, used as medical plant and also used as ornamental plant, can grow in temperate or subtropical climate and growing in hardiness zone 3-9.

Verbascum thapsus Plants, Seeds & Supplies for Sale

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Leaves color green to gray, leaves hairy in elliptic to oval shape and grow in rosette structure.

Verbascum thapsus flower

Flower color yellow in bowl shape the flowers grow on stems and bloom from the down to the top.

Verbascum thapsus for sale – Seeds or Plants to Buy

How to grow Verbascum thapsus growing and care:

Clean area can’t grow in shade, well-drained soil

What is the best way to start growing?
Plant / Seed

Is it necessary to graft or use vegetative reproduction?
No

Difficulties or problems when growing:
Invasive (but if you create shade the plant will disappear)

Planting season:
Spring / Summer

Pests and diseases:
?

Pruning season:
All year

How to prune:
Dead leaves

Size of the plant:
1-2m, 3-6 feet

Growth speed in optimal condition:
Fast growing / Medium growing

Water requirement:
Small amount of water / Average amount of water

Light conditions in optimal condition for growing:
Full sun

Is it possible to grow indoor as houseplant?
No

Growing is also possible in a planter /flowerpot / containers:
Yes

Blooming information

Bloom season?
Summer / Autumn

General information about the flower:
Bowl yellow flowers grow on stems and bloom from the down to the top

Scientific name:

Verbascum thapsus

Blooming Seasons	Autumn flowers Summer flowers
Flower colors	Yellow flower
Climate	Subtropics Climate Temperate Climate
Ornamental parts	Ornamental flower Ornamental leaves Ornamental plant
Plant growing speed	Average growing plants Fast growing plants
Plant life-form	Biennial plant Herbaceous
Plant Uses	Medical uses Ornamental plants
Planting Season	Spring Planting Summer planting
Plants sun exposure	Full sun Plants
Watering plants	Regularly water Small amounts of water
Hardiness zone	Hardiness zone 3 Hardiness zone 4 Hardiness zone 5 Hardiness zone 6 Hardiness zone 7 Hardiness zone 8 Hardiness zone 9

Growing in Pots, Balconies & Indoors

Common mullein is a full-sun biennial that forms a low leafy rosette in its first year and then a tall flower spike up to 1-2 m. It is not a houseplant, but a young rosette grows happily in a large pot on a sunny patio.

Quick Details

Container Size: A deep pot for the taproot – roughly 10-20 L or more
Indoor Suitability: Not a houseplant – it needs strong direct sun and grows too tall in flower
Best Spot: Full sun, out on a patio or balcony
Soil & Drainage: Lean, gritty, very free-draining soil – it dislikes rich, wet ground
Watering in Pots: Sparing to moderate; let the surface dry between waterings

Indoors & On the Windowsill

Not a houseplant: The grower marks it as unsuitable indoors. It needs full, direct sun and the flower spike is far too tall for a windowsill, which cannot supply enough light.
Overwintering: As a hardy biennial the first-year rosette simply overwinters outside and flowers the following year.

On a Balcony or Patio

Light & wind: Give it the sunniest, warmest spot. The tall spike catches the wind, so stake it and shelter it on exposed balconies. It is drought-tolerant, so water moderately and never let the pot stay wet.

Choosing the Pot, Soil & Long-Term Care

Pot & drainage: A deep pot suits the taproot; strong drainage holes and no standing saucer. Terracotta is ideal here because it dries fast.
Potting mix: A lean, sharp, gritty mix – add extra grit or perlite for drainage and keep it low in richness.
Feeding: Very little needed; mullein thrives in poor soil, so feed only lightly if at all.

Bloom & Flower Guide

Quick Details

Bloom Season: Summer into autumn
Time to First Bloom: In its second year – great mullein is a biennial that forms a leaf rosette the first year and sends up its flower spike the second
Flower Appearance: Soft yellow, shallow bowl-shaped flowers packed up a tall spike, opening a few at a time from the bottom upward
Edibility: The flowers are traditionally used in herbal teas (a medicinal use), not as a culinary edible flower; the fine hairs can irritate, so infusions are strained

Detailed Blooming Overview

Great mullein is a striking biennial. The first year is a rosette of soft, felted leaves; the second year it throws up a tall, dramatic flower spike that blooms over a long summer-to-autumn season.

Flower Characteristics

Five-lobed, shallow yellow bowls.
Open progressively up the spike over many weeks; well visited by bees.

Bloom Care & Thinning

Best conditions: Full sun and lean, well-drained soil suit it best.
Managing seed: Leave a spike to self-seed if you want more plants, or cut it once flowering fades to prevent it spreading.

Bloom Health & Protection

Mullein moth caterpillar: This species-specific caterpillar can strip the leaves and flower buds – handpicking or a Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis) treatment keeps it in check.