Pronounced (approximate): ver-BAS-kum blat-TAIR-ee-ah
White or yellow flowers have conspicuous purple-haired stamens. Flowers are spaced along slender stalks.
Moth Mullein (Verbascum blattaria): flower details. Tap the photo to open the gallery.
Family Scrophulariaceae
Life cycle Biennial
Blooms June–September
Height 2 to 5 feet
Habitat sun; disturbed soil; roadsides, fields, waste places, woodland edges, gardens
Common names: Moth Mullein
Bloom timing varies with latitude, weather and local conditions.
Explore reported observations. Sightings are not a complete range map.
sun; disturbed soil; roadsides, fields, waste places, woodland edges, gardens. Flowering season: June–September.
Common Mullein has thickly woolly foliage and dense spikes. Moth Mullein has more openly spaced flowers with purple-haired stamens.
White or yellow flowers have conspicuous purple-haired stamens.
Flowers are spaced along slender stalks.
Leaves lack the thick wool of Common Mullein. Pair close views with a photograph of the whole plant.
10 field photographs. Select a photograph to enlarge it; use Load more photos to see the rest.
Introduced in North America; native to Eurasia.
Reported U.S. distribution
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 Moth Mullein in the flower quiz, or compare it with other plants in the guide.
Field photographs: Where’s Wildlife.