Mulleins
What are they?
The mulleins are a distinctive group of plants in the figwort family (Scrophulariaceae). They are rather variable, but most have relatively large leaves and grow as biennials, the second year seeing the appearance of a tall flower spike from a basal rosette of leaves, rather in the manner of a foxglove plant. We have one or two native species, but many are introduced from mainland Europe, having originated as garden introductions.
Where are they found?
These are mostly generalists of open, sunny, grassy places and sometimes field edges and disturbed ground. Introduced species may be found on undeveloped or waste ground, especially in urban areas. You can click here to find details of some of the hybrids in our region.
Identification
Although most species are relatively easy to identify, one or two are rather similar, while the biggest problem comes from hybridisation, which is common in this genus. Careful attention to a suite of characters should identify most individuals, but anything showing a mixture of characters is likely to be a hybrid. Characters to check include: flower spike single or branched; leaf hairiness; attachment of the leaf bases to the stem; colour of hairs on the stamens. Note that most (all?) species can produce occasional individuals with white flowers.
Great Mullein Verbascum thapsus
Native and by far the commonest species throughout most of the region, growing in all kinds of open places, including field edges, waste ground and coastal habitats. Flowers June to August. Stems grow up to two metres in height with the flower spike usually being unbranched (though damaged stems may form a few side branches). Flowers relatively small and often only half opening; deeper yellow than those of other species. Stamens hairs white or pale yellow, dense on the upper three filaments, sparse on the lower two; upper three anthers reniform, lower two oblique and decurrent. Stigma capitate, with a rounded knob on the end (not spatula-shaped). Upper stem leaves have prominent, decurrent (winged) bases that run down the length of the stem to at least the next leaf. Leaves are rather thick and felty, and densely covered in off-white, star-shaped hairs.
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Hoary Mullein Verbascum pulverulentum
Of uncertain origin, perhaps native, perhaps introduced as most plants grow in disturbed and man-made habitats such as roadsides, railway sidings and abandoned pits and quarries. Formerly very locally-distributed, but becoming more widespread; common where it occurs, mostly around Norwich, Great Yarmouth, north-west Norfolk and west of Bury St Edmunds. Flowers July to August. Stems grow up to two metres in height with the flower spike bearing long side branches like a candelabra. Flowers relatively small, opening fully; pale yellow. Stamen hairs off white, thick on the upper three stamens, mostly confined to the filament bases on the lower two; anthers all reniform. Stigma spathulate. Upper stem leaves not winged at the base. A useful character is that the hairs wear off and cluster together in distinctive balls of fluff (known as flocculating).
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Orange Mullein Verbascum phlomoides
Introduced from Europe and scattered in a few places on waste ground, being perhaps most common in our area in south-east Suffolk. Flowers June to August. A very showy species, with relatively large, fully open flowers with broad petals; upper three stamens with pale yellow hairs and reniform anthers, lower two stamens hairless and with decurrent anthers. Stigma with spatula-like tip. Flower spike usually with short side branches in the upper stem leaf bases. Stem leaves with rounded bases, only shortly running into the stem (compare with the tapered, more clearly decurrent leaf bases of Dense-flowered Mullein). Leaves softly downy all over and often rather pale-looking due to the dense white hairs.
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Dense-flowered Mullein Verbascum densiflorum
Introduced from Europe and uncommon but slowly increasing, seemingly popping up from time to time in the region but often not persisting. Flowers June to August. A very showy species, with relatively large, fully open flowers with broad petals; upper three stamens with pale yellow hairs and reniform anthers, lower two stamens hairless and with decurrent anthers. Stigma with spatula-like tip. Flower spike usually with short side branches in the upper stem leaf bases. Stem leaves with winged, decurrent bases, running well into the stem. Leaves softly downy all over. Extremely similar to Orange Mullein and best told from it by the stem leaves, which have winged bases that taper into the stem from the leaf blade. Told from Great Mullein by the thinner leaves, branched flower spike and by the stigma which is elongate at the tip like a narrow spoon or spatula.
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Hungarian Mullein Verbascum speciosum
Introduced from Europe and generally rare and not persisting. A well-known population has become established in West Norfolk. Flowers June to August. A spectacular species, with narrow-petalled flowers carried in a two-metre tall, broadly-branched spike; stamens all with white hairs and reniform anthers. Stigma shortly spathulate. The basal leaves are narrower than most other species likely to be found around the county but densely hairy, like other species.
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Olympic Mullein Verbascum olympicum
Introduced from Europe as a garden ornamental and first recorded in North Norfolk in 2025. Flowers June to August. A stately species, rather closely resembling Hungarian Mullein in overall appearance with narrow-petalled flowers carried in a two-metre tall, broadly-branched spike. Basal leaves broadly lanceolate, whitish downy. Stamen filaments all with at least some white hairs, but the lower two mostly naked; upper three anthers reniform and tranversely attached, the lower two anthers transversely attached and elongate (compare with Hungarian Mullein). Stigma shortly spathulate.
Perhaps something of an enigmatic species as it is widely offered for sale via the internet and yet it is rarely recorded outside of gardens anywhere in the country.
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White Mullein Verbascum lychnitis
A rare introduction in East Anglia with only a handful of records, although considered native in chalky places in south-east England. Flowers July to August. A slightly smaller species than the species above, usually to only a metre or so in height. The flower spikes are branched, with branches carried rather stiffly and more erect than Hoary Mullein. Flowers relatively small with narrow petals; sometimes white but often yellow, despite the English name. Stamen hairs whitish to yellowish, anthers all reniform. Stigma capitate. Upper stem leaves not winged at the base. Leaves relatively thin, densely hairy and rather like those of foxgloves.
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Nettle-leaved Mullein Verbascum chaixii
Introduced from mainland Europe as a garden ornamental and occasionally found in urban amenity areas. Only once recorded in the wider countryside in our area, in North-west Norfolk (and marginally in East Anglia from Boston, Lincs). Flowers July to August. A variable species, from one to two metres in height. The flower spikes are typically well branched. Flowers relatively small with narrow, yellow petals that often have a purplish smudge at their base. Stamen hairs purple, anthers all reniform. Stigma capitate. Basal leaves with pale midribs and a truncate or cuneate base; leaves sometimes have a few, sinuate lobes at the base (subsp. chaixii).
Note: see also Verbascum Hybrids for comments on a white-flowered form of Nettle-leaved Mullein that is in cultivation.
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Dark Mullein Verbascum nigrum
A native species of chalky soils, rather scarce generally but locally common on dry soils in Breckland and the Suffolk Sandlings. Flowers June to September. A relatively short species, to around a metre in height, the flower spike usually unbranched, or sometimes with a few side branches. Flowers relatively small but opening fully; pale yellow (rarely white). Stamens all with purple hairs and reniform anthers. Stigma small, capitate. Leaves hairy, but less so than most other species and consequently having a greener appearance; petiole and basal midrib typically purple-tinged; base cordate.
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Caucasian Mullein Verbascum pyramidatum
Introduced from Eastern Europe and generally rare, with a small population established in grassy places in the Newmarket area in West Suffolk and East Cambridgeshire. Flowers June to August. A relatively small species, to a little over a metre in height and with a much-branched, rather open flower spike. Flowers relatively small and narrow-petalled, carried singly at the nodes; pedicels very short and shorter than their bracts. Stamens all with pale purple hairs, often whiter towards the base, and with reniform anthers. Stigma capitate. Leaves downy but much less so than other mulleins and consequently appearing greener. Leaves with coursely-toothed and wavy margins.
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Moth Mullein Verbascum blattaria
Introduced from Europe and an occasional garden escape, but rarely persisting for long. Flowers June to August. A small species, to less than a metre in height and with a very open flower spike, the flowers being arranged singly on long stalks from the base of small, leafy bracts. Flowers are large and broad-petalled and may be yellow or white. Stamens all purple-haired, the upper three with reniform anthers and the lower two with shortly decurrent anthers. Stigmas capitate. Leaves green, more or less hairless and variable in shape, sometimes being wavy-edged. Upper part of plant and seed capsules have sticky-glandular hairs.
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Twiggy Mullein Verbascum virgatum
Introduced from Europe and an occasional garden escape, but rarely persisting for long. Flowers June to September. A fairly small species with an unbranched flower spike, the flowers being arranged in clusters of 2-5 from the base of small, leafy bracts. Towards the top of the spike, flowers may be single at each bract, but their stalks are clearly shorter than the length of the calyx (sepal tube). Flower spike very glandular-hairy. Stamens with the purple hairs, the lower two becoming hairless towards their tips; upper three anthers reniform, the lower two shortly decurrent. Stigmas capitate.
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Sinuate Mullein Verbascum sinuatum
Introduced from Europe, perhaps as an accidental introduction from wool waste, with an old record from near Thetford in 1943. Flowers July to September. A distinctive species with a very twiggy, multi-branched flower spike, purple hairs on the stamens (all with reniform anthers), a capitate stigma and strongly lobed basal leaves.
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Purple Mullein Verbascum phoeniceum
Introduced from South-eastern Europe as a garden ornamental and recorded only rarely as an escape since the late 19th Century. Flowers May to June. A relatively small species, to a little over a metre in height. Flowers dark purple in the true species but often white or even apricot shades in garden forms. Stamens all with purple, glandular hairs and reniform anthers; stigma capitate. Leaves deep green with impressed veins.
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