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Great Mullein Verbascum thapsus 

 
 
Attracts BeesBees are attracted to this plant
Biennial Life CycleBiennial life cycle
Funnel-Shaped FlowersFunnel-shaped flowers
Yellow FlowersYellow flowers
5 Petals5 petals
Jun-Aug Flowering
period
Oval LeavesOval leaves
Hairy-Edged LeavesHairy-edged leaves
Round StemRound stem
Tap RootTap root
200cmMaximum height
 
 
  Main image of Great Mullein
© 2021 Adrian Briggs
 

Great Mullein is a native biennial plant of the UK, typically found growing in scrubland, hedgerows and waste ground, to a mature height of up to 200cm.

Great Mullein takes its name from its relative size ('greater') and from the late Middle English for 'yellow', referring to its flower colour. Great Mullein is a tall erect plant, bushy at the base and tapering to a terminal spike of densely-clustered flowers. It has a greyish-green appearance, owing to the short fine hairs covering its leaves, buds and stem.

Botanic classification and naming: Great Mullein is a member of the Figwort (Scrophulariaceae) family. The genus name 'Verbascum' identifies the plant as a Mullein and its species name 'thapsus' means 'from Thapsus, Tunisia'.

Benefits: Produces large quantities of pollen, attracting Honey bees, Bumble bees and Solitary bees.

Benefits to wildlife are also indicated with orange icons in the plant profile bar at the top.

 

 
Flower of Great Mullein

© 2021 Adrian Briggs

 

Flowers:
Great Mullein usually flowers between June and August.

Flower colour:

Flower Colour Yellow

Yellow

Flower shape:

Flower Shape  Funnel

Funnel

Petals:

Petal Number =  5

5

Leaf of Great Mullein

© 2021 Adrian Briggs

 

Leaves:

Leaf Shape:

Leaf Shape is Oval

Oval

Or:

Alternative Leaf Shape is Elongated

Elongated

Leaf Margins:

Leaf Margin is hairy

hairy

Stem of Great Mullein

© 2021 Adrian Briggs

 

Stem and Roots:

Stem shape:

Stem Shape is Round

Round

Root type:

Root Type is Tap

Tap