Pronounced (approximate): ver-BAS-kum THAP-sus
Yellow flowers open along a dense upright spike. Large gray-green leaves are thickly woolly.
Common Mullein (Verbascum thapsus): flower details. Tap the photo to open the gallery.
Family Scrophulariaceae
Life cycle Biennial
Blooms June–September
Height 2 to 6 feet
Habitat part shade, sun; fields, along roads, waste areas
Common names: Common Mullein
Bloom timing varies with latitude, weather and local conditions.
Explore reported observations. Sightings are not a complete range map.
part shade, sun; fields, along roads, waste areas. Flowering season: June–September.
Moth Mullein has spaced, stalked flowers and lacks the thick wool covering Common Mullein.
Yellow flowers open along a dense upright spike.
Large gray-green leaves are thickly woolly.
A first-year rosette precedes the tall flowering stem. Pair close views with a photograph of the whole plant.
12 field photographs. Select a photograph to enlarge it; use Load more photos to see the rest.
Introduced in North America; native to Europe.
Reported U.S. distribution
AK, AL, AR, AZ, CA, CO, CT, 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
Includes native and introduced state records where listed; a state record does not imply occurrence in every county.
Observation maps show submitted records, not every place the plant occurs. Follow local access rules when visiting a site.
Practice recognizing Common Mullein in the flower quiz, or compare it with other plants in the guide.
Field photographs: Where’s Wildlife.