A love affair with mullein

July 1, 11:00 PMSF Backyard Herbal Projects ExaminerLisa Ludwigsen

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Thick, fuzzy leaves provide a resting place. photo: Lee Hill

Small and delicate or stunningly masculine, the mullein, a member of the verbascum family, enchants the backyard gardener with its visual diversity and stellar medicinal abilities. Adding even more interest, mulleins are controversial for their growing habits in parks and wildlands

Comprised of over 200 varieties and native to England, Europe and some parts of Asia, verbascums find a place in almost any backyard garden: they range from a demure 1' to over 8' in height, are drought tolerant, create impressive flowering stalks and attact bees and insects galore. An excellent source of verbascums in the Bay Area is Annie’s Annuals & Perennials in Richmond. Check out their wide selection of verbascums online at www.anniesannuals.com.

The medicine of the mullein
The variety most used for medicinal purposes is Verbascum thapsus. Thick, fuzzy green leaves grow in a rosette pattern followed by a tall pithy stalk covered with delicate, yellow flowers. This variety grows to over 5 feet tall. Medicinally this plant is truly sterling.

The leaves and flowers are an important bronchial decongestant, soothing, relaxing and expectorant for those dry winter coughs. People often discount the healing power of plants but for bronchial ailments, verbascum thapsus is absolutely worth a try. It really does work!

The rosette pattern of a year old v. thapsus.

To treat a congested cough, make a tea with 1 cup boiling water poured over 2 teaspoons dried mullein leaves and/or flowers. Because of the fuzziness of the leaves, it is important to chop them very finely and strain the tea well. Drink three times a day. Combine with peppermint for better flavor and added benefit. For a cough with fever, add yarrow to the mix.

In addition, the small yellow flowers infused in olive oil effectively relieve earaches. Fill a small jar with fresh flowers, cover with olive oil and infuse for 10-14 days in a warm place. Strain and apply a few drops at a time into the ear.

Mullein is also used in an herbal smoke mix, pared with herbs like peppermint and uva ursi as an alternative to tobacco and even as a treatment for bronchial conditions.

A Proud 8' tall verbascum guards the porch.

Other uses
In previous times, the tall stalks were used as torches when the attached seed heads were dipped in tallow. The stalks are also used to make fire using the hand drill method.

We also call this the ‘toilet paper plant’ because its soft leaves come in handy when the plant is found during a day hike or backpack trip.

A troublemaker or a treasure?
And now for the controversy: Many county agriculture departments consider v. thapsus an invasive weed and prohibit nurseries from growing it. The tall stalk produces hundreds of tiny seeds that spread easily in disturbed soil.

In backyard gardens I believe it is safe to plant a few v. thapsus plants for general landscaping and medicinal needs. Other verbascums are available at nurseries or online.

Growing Mullein
Find V. thapsus seeds online or gather in the wild if you find the dried stalks with abundant seeds. Sprinkled throughout the garden in the fall, the seeds will sprout readily in springtime. Also start in flats or pots for transplant later on. Mullein are biennial so count on one year of the developing rosette and another year to the spectacular bloom.

Mullein are a true love in the garden for their versatility, visual impact and medicinal value.

Always make sure you have the correct plant before using or consuming and consult with a trained herbalist or reliable text (of which there are many) if you have questions. Always consult with a doctor before using any herb if you are pregnant.

Remember: Plants are here for our respected and appreciative use. It is our job to grow, get to know, and use them!

For more information, contact Lisa Ludwigsen at lisa@schoolgardenco.com. Find high quality, all natural body care products at www.schoolgardenco.com.