Common Mullein

Common mullein rosette.
Common mullein yellow flowers.
Common mullein yellow flowers.
Common mullein dried seedhead.
Field with Common mullein, cheatgrass, and Musk thistle.

Common Mullein

Verbascum thapsus

Information Sheet (PDF)


Colorado List C – Control recommended


General

  • Biennial
  • Family: Scrophulariaceae (Figwort)
  • Introduced from Europe


Common names

  • Wooly Mullein


Habitat

  • Found in rangeland, pastures, open areas, disturbed sites and roadsides


Plant


Vegetation

  • Leaves get smaller as they grow up the flower stalk
  • Leaves oblong, blue-green, hairy, up to 5 inches wide and 12 inches long
  • Mature plants grow up to 8 feet tall


Roots

  • Tap root and fibrous secondary roots


Flower

  • Color: yellow
  • Season: June to September
  • Size: about 1 inch wide; tightly grouped flowers at the end of a stalk up to 6 feet tall


Seed

  • Seeds last up to 100 years in the soil
  • Up to 180,000 seeds per plant


Seedling

  • Rosette


Reproduction

  • Seed


Control


Biological

  • Gymnetron tetrum, seed weevil


Chemical


Cultural

  • Prevention – maintain health of site
  • Removal – flower and seed stalks should be bagged and disposed
  • Re-vegetation of highly disturbed sites


Mechanical

  • Burning - Not recommended; fire encourages plants to germinate
  • Grazing - Not recommended; most animals will not feed on the plant
  • Mowing - Not recommended; plants will regrow multiple stems and set seed


Use all chemicals according to the manufacturer's label. No specific recommendation or endorsement is made or implied by listing methods or products.

Treatment Timeline


JanFebMarAprMayJuneJulyAugSeptOctNovDec
Control











Removal

Remove rosettes.  Bag flower and seed stalks.

Herbicide











Growth











Vegetative











Flowering











Seed