It is a biennial, meaning it lives for two years.

Does it spread easily?

Yes, it produces thousands of seeds that germinate readily in disturbed soil.

Guide botanique

Great Mullein.

Verbascum thapsus

Prononciation ver-BASS-kum THAP-sus

Aussi appelée Aaron's rod, Aaron's-rod, Big Taper, Blanketweed, Charmin of the woods, Common Mullein, Flannel Mullein, Flannel Plant

Great Mullein — Photo de Irina Mitine (CC BY) via gbif

Mullein is a striking biennial plant that produces a tall, impressive spike of yellow flowers. It's often found growing in fields and along roadsides where it enjoys plenty of sun. You'll love how its fuzzy, silver-green leaves add a unique texture to your garden.

Une autre photo de Great Mullein — Photo de mar (CC BY-SA) via iNaturalist

En un coup d'œil

Niveau d'entretien: Facile
Type de plante: Biennial herb
Lumière: Full sun
Lumière en intérieur: Soleil direct
Arrosage: Tous les 7 à 14 jours
Taille adulte: 6 to 8 feet
Croissance: Rapide
Rusticité: USDA 3 à 9
Floraison: Mid to late summer

Entretien

Plant this in a spot that gets plenty of sunshine to keep it happy. Watch for wilting leaves during dry spells, which is your sign that it needs a good drink. It's a very low-maintenance plant that mostly takes care of itself once it's settled in.

Arrosage: Water deeply when the top inch of soil feels dry to the touch.
Engrais: It rarely needs fertilizer if planted in decent garden soil.
Taille: Cut back the flower stalk after it finishes blooming to keep the area tidy.
Rempotage: Since it's a biennial, you likely won't need to repot it before it completes its life cycle.
Sol: Well-draining, sandy or rocky soil
pH du sol: 6.0 to 7.5
Température: -30 à 35°C
Humidité: 30 à 70%
Résistance à la sécheresse: Élevée
Durée de vie: Biennial, typically 2 years.
Parfum: Léger
Résistance aux chevreuils et lapins: Élevée

Signes qu'il faut rempoter

Roots growing out of the drainage holes.
Stunted growth despite adequate light and water.

Sécurité

Humains: The plant is generally considered non-toxic, though the fine hairs on the leaves can cause mechanical irritation.
Enfants: The fine, fuzzy hairs on the leaves may cause irritation if handled by children, and the seeds should not be eaten.
Allergènes de contact: The dense, stellate hairs on the leaves can cause contact dermatitis or skin irritation in sensitive individuals.
Allergènes aéroportés: The pollen can be a minor respiratory irritant for those with severe hay fever.
Comestibilité: While often used in herbal teas, the seeds contain rotenone and should not be ingested.

Comment l'identifier

Tall central flowering spike
Soft, woolly, silver-green leaves
Large basal rosette of leaves
Small yellow five-petaled flowers

Hauteur: 0,6 à 2m
Envergure: 0,3 à 0,6m
Feuilles: gray-green, deciduous
Fleurs: yellow, 1 à 3cm

Problèmes courants

Powdery mildew — A fungal infection that appears as white dusty patches on the foliage.

La cultiver

Multiplication: seed
Quand planter: spring, autumn
Hivernage: The first-year rosette stays low to the ground and remains evergreen in mild climates. No special protection is needed as it is very cold hardy.
En pot: It is not ideal for containers due to its long taproot, but it can grow in a very deep pot of at least 40 centimeters.

Direct Sowing

1. Collect seeds in late summer or autumn.
2. Scatter seeds onto bare, disturbed soil in a sunny location.
3. Press them lightly into the surface without burying them, as they need light to germinate.

Pair this plant with other sun-loving, drought-tolerant wildflowers to create a low-maintenance meadow aesthetic.

Bonnes associations

Purple coneflower — They share similar requirements for full sun and well drained soil.
Rudbeckia — Both plants thrive in open, sunny meadows and disturbed ground.

Espèces similaires

Verbascum blattaria — A related species with similar growth habits and flower structure.

Science

Famille: Scrophulariaceae
Genre: Verbascum
Ordre: Lamiales
Classe: Magnoliopsida
Région d'origine: Europe, Northern Africa, and Asia.
Préservation: It is considered an invasive weed in many parts of North America and is not of conservation concern.

It is a pioneer species that thrives in disturbed, sunny, and dry soils where competition from other plants is low.

Intérêt pour la faune: nectar source
Pollinisateurs: abeilles, papillons
Utilisations: ornamental, medicinal, erosion control

Au fil des saisons

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Floraison

Fructification

Feuillage

Repères écologiques

Salinité: 2/9
Réaction du sol: 6/9
Lumière: 8/9
Température: 5/9
Humidité: 3/9
Nutriments: 3/9

Taxonomie vérifiée avec le GBIF.

Ce qu'on demande souvent

Is it a perennial?: It is a biennial, meaning it lives for two years.
Does it spread easily?: Yes, it produces thousands of seeds that germinate readily in disturbed soil.

D'où vient le nom

The genus name Verbascum is a Latin corruption of barbascum, meaning bearded, while the species name thapsus refers to the ancient city of Thapsus in Tunisia.

Bon à savoir

It is often called cowboy toilet paper due to the soft, fuzzy texture of its leaves.
The plant is a biennial, forming a rosette in its first year and a tall flower spike in its second.
It was historically used as a torch by dipping the dried stalk in tallow.

Aussi dans

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Ce guide a été généré par IA et vérifié avec la taxonomie du GBIF. Il s'agit d'informations générales, et non de conseils horticoles ou vétérinaires. Découvre comment nous concevons ces guides.