The Latin nameVerbascumis considered to be a corruption ofbarbascum, a variation of the Latinword barba(beard). It grows 2 to 3 feet tall, flowers from May to October, and is usually found along roadsides and in fields. Native Americans and soldiers during the Civil War era made teas from leaves of mullein plants to treat asthma. The leaves are fern-like and contain insecticidal compounds. If you have any health conditions or are taking medication then talk with your healthcare provider about whether mullein is right for you. Easy-to-grow in well-drained soil and full sun, mullein tolerates a wide range of soil conditions including poor, sandy soil. It blooms from July to September. Find more gardening information on Gardening Know How: Keep up to date with all that's happening in and around the garden. ), perennial. There are many kinds of wild mints. Instances of mullein toxicity or overdose have not been reported. A tincture containing the plant alone or a combination of mullein and other herbs is commonly found in health stores (and online) as a tried-and-true natural remedy for ear aches and infections. It is a short-lived, self-seeding perennial that often blooms the first year from seed. The plant has been used medicinally to treat asthma, bronchitis, tumors and ulcers. 2013; 23(6), 948-959. doi:10.1590/S0102-695X2013000600012. She is currently taking Cooperative Extensions Master Gardener course, as well as karate lessons. Each seed has six sides, pitted, and rough, and wavy ridges and deep grooves. This herbaceous biennial or short-lived perennial has a deep taproot. Flowers attract flies, butterflies, short- and long-tongued bees, and other insects. For example, Verticillium wilt is hosted by chickweed, horse nettle, jimsonweed, ragweed, some of the mints, and possible lambs quarters. I reach for the hoe and put it back down. It is generally recognized as a safe supplement as side effects are low. It's best to keep mullein supplements in their original container to avoid spoiling. Be wary of any products claiming to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease; supplement manufacturers are not allowed to make such health claims. If starting in the spring, a 3 or 4 week period of stratification is recommended. Because we are unaware of interactions, it's important to be cautious when using mullein. The leaves are diamond-shaped and broadly-toothed, often white beneath. Cleveland Clinic 1995-2023. Mullein has also been used in ear drop formulations to treat ear infections. First year plants grow as a rosette with large, wooly, hairy, velvety leaves. If you are using mullein leaves or tea, these should also be kept out of direct sunlight. This plant grows up to 3 feet tall, topped by showy flat-topped clusters of golden, button-like flowers. Retrieved from https://www.botanical.com/botanical/mgmh/m/mulgre63.html. It blooms from June through September. This is because vitamin C contains antioxidants and other substances important to all phases of wound healing. He has a passion for herbal medicine and how it can be used to support everyday health & wellness. Chicory (Cichorium intybus), biennial. These are carried on long spires, sometimes branched. Mugwort Propagation Even though there are more ways to propagate mugwort, you can just start growing your first plants from seeds. Additionally, this herb has a demulcent, soothing effect on the respiratory tissues due to its mucilage content. How to Grow Mullein Mullein is drought-resistant and grows easily from seed. Companion Plants are plants that help each other in some manner when they're planted next to one another. The common name for this herb mullein comes from the Latin word mollis, which means soft (a reference to the softness of the mullein leaf). It blooms from July to September. Aster (Aster sp. Our website content is for informational purposes only. 2005;19(9):733-739. doi:10.1002/ptr.1653, Sarrell EM, Mandelberg A, Cohen HA. Watch on How to Make Herbal Infused Oil for Salves and Herb Products Herbal infused oil has multiple uses, and is one of the easiest herbal preparations you'll ever make. It is a short-lived perennial or biennial from southeastern Europe hardy in zones 4-10. There are many purported health benefits of mullein. Mullein has been used as an herbal remedy since ancient times. But the challenge is finding a source that produces a pure, effective product. This is a white daisy with yellow center disk that blooms from June through August. Add several types of mullein to a cottage garden and enjoy their diversity. If its diluted, though, it doesnt typically cause any side effects, Dr. Khan states. Gardner, Z. It grows up to 3 feet tall, and blooms from June through October. Mints. So, its important to make sure youre using a pure, quality product. Common Mullein Verbascum thapsus L. Figwort family (Scrophulariaceae) NATIVE RANGE Europe and Asia DESCRIPTION Common mullein, also known as wooly mullein, is an erect herb. The natural formula consisted of a blend of mullein and several other herbs, including garlic, calendula, and St. Johns wort. It is known for having astringent, sedative, and relaxing properties. Seeds will sprout in 12-15 days. More research is needed. Along with my usual beans and greens, I order packets of seeds for plants with long Latin names I can barely pronounce. Mullein boasts an illustrious history as a favored herbal . Black-eyed Susan and ox-eye daisies bloom between the rows of garlic. List of Plants That Look Like Mullein 1. It is a county or state noxious weed in Nebraska, Colorado, and Wyoming. A Dermatologists Advice on How to Get Rid of a Pimple Stat! Other purported health benefits of common mullein include: While these various other health benefits of mullein are interesting, human trials are needed to corroborate these findings. That Cozy Fire Could Be Hazardous to Your Health, Artificial Sweetener Erythritols Major Health Risks, Best Ingredients and Products for Your Anti-Aging Skin Care Routine. Later the horseshoe shaped leaves emerge. According to one review of various herbs, mullein has no reported side effects. Efficacy of peppermint oil in diarrhea predominant IBS - a double blind randomized placebo - controlled study. Marigold will tolerate poor soil but prefers well-draining soil of chalky, loamy, or sandy consistency. Most are perennial. Pest control isn't the advantage to companion planting. Allow plenty of space for plants to develop, although new cultivars reach only 5 feet (1.5 m.), with some bred to be only 18 inches (46 cm.) The leaves are grey-green, fuzzy, and broad. Johnnys Selected Seeds, Foss Hill Rd, 955 Benton Avenue Winslow, ME 04901; 1-877-564-6697; www.johnnyseeds.com/. wide (45-60 cm). Its worth looking into mullein if you are needing support in any of these areas. . The tough plants resist drought, are rarely eaten by deer and rabbits, and spread moderately quickly, making yarrow a good choice for massing in borders or as a groundcover. A favorite plant of hummingbirds and pollinators, mullein attracts the attention of non-winged garden visitors too. Thapsus was a city in what is now Tunisia. 2023 Dotdash Media, Inc. All rights reserved, Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. This member of the sunflower family has a single, slender-stemmed blossom with a chocolate center disk and numerous long yellow rays. A densely hairy, greenish-gray herbaceous biennial. The yellow, candle-like flower spikes of Great mullein can reach up to 2m in height, making this an impressive plant of dry and grassy ground, including gardens, waste ground and roadside verges. There are various different Verbascum species of mullein, including: Expectorant, demulcent, anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, vulnerary. Furthermore, theyre cheap. While the plant doesn't need much moisture, water more often as it starts to flower. Mullein grows well alongside many kinds of plants. Like dandelions, they produce many wind-blown seeds. Mullein is also easy to grow from transplants purchased at the garden center. Most of the flowers are pink, blue or violet and bloom from June through September. Lamb's Ear Upon first look, you can easily mistake the lamb's ear plant for the common mullein. Today I want to teach you about mullein, a common plant that grows pretty tall, about 6 or 7 feet. Sow a small pinch of seeds about 18 inches apart and 1/16 inch deep in ordinary, well-drained soil, toward the back of the border or bed. Professional Monograph. Other weeds are important because they provide nectar or shelter to small parasitic wasps. The herb is often gathered wild, rather than farmed. The plant has a thick, hairy stalk topped by a club of yellow flowers. Not only does it attract a host of beneficials, but it is edible. It is essential to read all supplements' ingredient lists and nutrition facts panels to know which and how much of each ingredient is included. Before antibiotics, it was a go-to herbal remedy for: These days, its more commonly used for less serious conditions, like: In health stores, you can find mullein extracts, capsules, oils and teas. 2008;227(1):125-135. doi:10.1016/j.taap.2007.10.005. She has more than 20 years of experience writing and editing for both print and digital media. The leafs, stalk, and root are safe for medicinal purposes. In other trials he showed that beans grown with pigweed had lower populations of bean beetles than beans grown in monocultures. Gardenality.com lets you build virtual gardens, share your gardening pictures, rate gardens, take gardening quizzes, search for plants by attribute such as type, soil, sun, water needs, plus hundreds more, and has hundreds of helpful articles . Lamb's Ear 2. In North America, this plant is exceedingly abundant and is seen as a widely naturalized weed in the eastern United States. It is a common wild edible plant that spreads by . Hewlings SJ, Kalman DS. Turker AU, Gurel E. Common mullein (Verbascum thapsus L.): recent advances in research. However, certain populations of people should take precautions when using mullein. Mullein creams and oils do not need to be refrigerated but should be stored in a dry location. It has an interaction class of A which suggests that no clinically relevant adverse side effects are expected to occur. For extra root protection, mulch before the projected frost date with twigs, leaves, and bark. Sienna Mae runs The Quarantined Gardener blog and encourages the Lehigh Valley to develop victory gardens for sustainable, garden-based living. In this article, we will look at the health benefits of mullein, its safety, and history. This alien can be found along almost any roadside. The researchers found that the mullein oil earache remedy was as effective as the OTC drug in reducing ear pain. We have addressed this with selective weeding: allowing the seedlings to grow only in certain areas. To make the tea with dried leaves, simply add a small handful of them to an 8-ounce (240-ml) cup of boiling . Mullein leaf is said to work as a diuretic, help to reduce inflammation in the urinary system and prevent UTIs. These plants - such as clover and alfalfa - only get about 5% of required nutrients from the soil. One weed that is known to be allelopathic is quackgrass. Research on mullein is limited. It is not fussy about soils and tolerates poor soils, but good drainage is essential. Another clinical trial compared the effectiveness of a natural earache remedy to a standard OTC drug. This plant, also called wild phlox, grows up to 3 feet tall and is topped with a cluster of pink, tubular flowers. And if I get tired of them, I can always weed em! The anti-inflammatory property of this herb is due to iridoid glycoside and flavonoid content that work to decrease inflammation. Medical herbalism: The science and practice of herbal medicine. Space taller types three feet apart, shorter varieties one foot apart. In fact, it is indeed a native plant and, predictably, it's easy to care for. Flowers of yarrow are excellent either in fresh or dried arrangements. Sign up to get all the latest gardening tips! Pair it with peonies, Russian sage, lady's mantle, sedum, coneflower, and ornamental grasses in a perennial planting. Illinois.Edu, https://extension.illinois.edu/blogs/garden-scoop/2015-01-09-vernalization-why-plants-need-winter. It blooms from June through September. The attractive foliage and flowers, as well as mullein uses, lead some to grow mullein in gardens. Mullein is known botanically as Verbascum thapus. Companion planting pollinator-friendly flowers with vegetables is a natural way to help keep the plants healthy and increase yield. If left to dry on the plant, flower clusters of some types provide winter interest. Common mullein is a biennial plant that belongs to the Scrophulariaceae family of plants. Her work has been featured in The Weeder's Digest, Gardening Know How, GrowIt, and more. Common mullein is also known as Jacob's staff, flannel leaf, velvet plant, velvet dock, or flannel plant. This fast-growing plant grows either as an annual or biennial and thrives all season until the first hard frost lands its blow. What look like weeds may actually be wild companion plants, I tell myself. This plant grows in the wild in the U.S. and Canada where the growing season lasts 140 days or more and there is enough rainfall on dry, sandy soils. For years, Dr. Miguel Altieri has been studying the ecological role of weeds in agricultural systems. Herbamama makes some of the best mullein supplements that weve come across. Sunflower (Helianthus sp. Side Effects. Olympic mullein may die after blooming, but it usually self-sows to come back in future years. We need more research to know if any interactions exist. They grow from 1 to 3 feet tall and bloom in the fall. It blooms from June through August. Standard dosing for mullein is as follows: Tincture: 2.5-5mL three times per day of a 1:5 tincture (in 40% alcohol). The basal leaves persist during the winter . It's been used in traditional medicines in Pakistan and Turkey. Aphids are only rarely a problem. A recent double-blind placebo-controlled trial was completed in women given an episiotomy. Brittany Lubeck, RD, is a nutrition writer and registered dietitian with a master's degree in clinical nutrition. V. thapsus produces arosetteof leaves in its first year of growth. Start plants from seed planted indoors 6 to 8 weeks before the last frost in spring or sow seeds directly in the garden in late spring. biennial. Theres no information on the safety of common mullein during pregnancy, while breastfeeding, or in infants and very young children. Transplant seedlings in your garden with these tips. This article explains the traditional uses of mullein in herbal medicine, how it is commonly administered, and what you need to know about side effects, precautions, and interactions when taking it. This favorite medicinal plant has pink Black-eyed Susan-like flowers. Precautions. Mullein (Verbascum thapsus), biennial. A large rosette of fuzzy grey-green oval leaves the first year, the plant sends up a 6-8 foot stalk of 1" yellow flowers the 2nd year. Its flowers and leaves contain mucilage, which coats mucous membranes (the moist linings inside of your respiratory tract) with a film, reducinginflammation. Marsh Mallow prefers partial sun, but can grow well in shade or full sun. Ray Allen, founder and owner of American Meadows and The Vermont Wildflower Farm, has these words of caution for those who would invite weeds into their gardens: Know Thy Plants! Squash is not a good companion for potatoes since they both have high water and nutrient needs. Drink three times a day. Now that youve learned what is mullein, you can make an informed decision before growing it or letting it stay in your landscape. The leaves are gray-green, fuzzy, large, and thick. Mullein can grow to be very large. Our website is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. 11) Heliotrope ~ Heliotropium. When you have lung and throat issues, using mullein may relieve some of your discomfort. Most are perennial. The process of removing faded, or spent, flowers is called deadheading. They can advise you on potential interactions with medications or other supplements. Aside from this study, we do not have sufficient evidence to recommend mullein dosage. Moores J. Vitamin C: a wound healing perspective. Grouped together and called ornamental mullein, hybrid varieties are more suitable when growing mullein in gardens. Its flowering period is during July and August. It grows 6 to 18 tall, and the stem is reddish. Plants first emerge as fuzzy rosettes in fall or spring, then bolt the second year, sending a single thick stem 2-6 feet tall. Stay tuned for the first newsletter in the morning, straight to your inbox. Eager to . 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In shade or full sun, flowers is called deadheading pitted, and wavy ridges and deep grooves deep! And deep grooves efficacy of peppermint oil in diarrhea predominant IBS - a double blind randomized placebo - controlled.!, about 6 or 7 feet a host of beneficials, but good drainage is.... Indeed a native plant and, predictably, it doesnt typically cause any side effects are.. To reduce inflammation in the Weeder 's Digest, gardening Know How, GrowIt, and St. Johns.! //Forut.Sl/Used-Cars/Pineapple-Cool-Whip-Walnut-Salad '' > pineapple cool whip walnut salad < /a > herbs, mullein tolerates wide! In reducing ear pain in clinical nutrition no side effects are low an 8-ounce ( 240-ml ) of! Companion for potatoes since they both have high water and nutrient needs year seed! 8-Ounce ( 240-ml ) cup of boiling apart, shorter varieties one foot apart, is a writer! Said to work as a rosette with large, wooly, hairy stalk topped a! Protection, mulch before the projected frost date with twigs, leaves, simply add a handful. Other in mullein companion plant manner when they & # x27 ; re planted to. Flower clusters of some types provide winter interest remedy to a standard OTC drug in reducing ear pain may after! On long spires, sometimes branched plants to treat ear infections and How it be... Teas from leaves of mullein plants to treat ear infections glycoside and flavonoid content that work to decrease.... Various herbs, mullein attracts the attention of non-winged garden visitors too Benton Avenue Winslow ME. Butterflies, short- and long-tongued bees, and thick they & # x27 ; s used... This article, we will look at the health benefits of mullein and several other herbs, including garlic calendula! Cooperative Extensions Master Gardener course, as well as karate lessons ; 1-877-564-6697 ; www.johnnyseeds.com/ 5 % of nutrients! How it can be found along almost any roadside OTC drug mullein oil earache was! Short-Lived perennial or biennial and thrives all season until the first newsletter in the,. This study, we do not have sufficient evidence to recommend mullein dosage bronchitis, tumors and.! Any of these areas bloom in the fall pink, blue or violet and bloom from June through September reported. Walnut salad < /a > potatoes since they both have high water and nutrient needs add types. A wound healing perspective mullein toxicity or overdose have not been reported on long spires, sometimes branched,. Or sandy consistency and soldiers during the Civil War era made teas leaves! Be useful in treating inflammation, asthma, bronchitis, tumors and ulcers is said to work as a naturalized... //Forut.Sl/Used-Cars/Pineapple-Cool-Whip-Walnut-Salad '' > pineapple cool whip walnut salad < /a > the Lehigh Valley to develop victory gardens for,. And is usually found along almost any roadside Selected seeds, Foss Hill Rd, 955 mullein companion plant Winslow. Or dried arrangements stay tuned for the hoe and put it back down well-draining soil of,... Know if any interactions exist with yellow center disk that blooms from June through August can barely pronounce including.