Gardening Flowers Perennials How to Plant and Grow Mullein A tall, cottage-garden favorite, this undemanding plant attracts hummingbirds. By Nadia Hassani Nadia Hassani Nadia Hassani is a gardening and food writer with more than two decades of hands-on gardening experience in vegetable and fruit gardening, landscaping with native plants, and garden design. Learn about BHG's Editorial Process Updated on February 15, 2024 In This Article View All In This Article Where to Plant Planting Tips Care Pests and Problems Propagation Types Companion Plants FAQ Trending Videos Close this video player A favorite plant of hummingbirds and pollinators, mullein attracts the attention of non-winged garden visitors too. This showy cottage garden favorite makes a joyful statement in the early summer garden as it sends up a tall flower spike and then begins to open pretty blossoms in shades of yellow, pink, white, and purple depending on the variety. The more than 350 species in the Verbascum genus are native to Europe and Asia. They include short-lived perennials, biennials, and annuals, ranging in size from dwarf varieties to towering plants of 6 feet. The most diversity of mullein is found in the Mediterranean. Some species have fuzzy, silvery leaves, earning the plant the names “Beggar’s Blanket” and “Old Man’s Flannel” because poor people used the thick leaves to insulate their shoes. Mullein Overview Genus Name Verbascum spp. Common Name Mullein Plant Type Annual, Perennial Light Sun Height 2 to 6 feet Width 6 to 24 inches Flower Color Blue, Pink, White, Yellow Foliage Color Chartreuse/Gold, Gray/Silver Season Features Summer Bloom Special Features Attracts Birds, Cut Flowers, Low Maintenance Zones 10, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 Propagation Seed Problem Solvers Drought Tolerant Where to Plant Mullein Plant mullein in a location with full sun. Deep soil is best due to the plant’s long taproot but apart from that, mullein adapts well to many types of soil and grows in soil with slightly acidic to neutral pH. There are many suitable places for mullein: in the back of of borders and beds, in containers, cut flower gardens, pollinator gardens, and meadows. Mullein grows well alongside many kinds of plants. Pair it with peonies, Russian sage, lady's mantle, sedum, coneflower, and ornamental grasses in a perennial planting. Plant annual varieties of mullein in the cutting garden and enjoy armloads of fresh bouquets. Common mullein (Verbascum thapsus) it is an invasive species in 20 states, including Wisconsin, Ohio, Illinois, and all western states. It is a biennial often found growing wild in fields and ditches, meadows, and forest openings, forming dense, persistent stands and choking out native plants. One plant produces more than 100,000 seeds. How and When to Plant Mullein Plant mullein in the spring, which gives it maximum time to get established. Dig a hole about twice the diameter of the nursery pot and about the same depth. Place the plant in the hole and fill in original soil to the top of the root ball. Gently tamp down the soil. Water deeply after planting and continue watering until it is established. Space plants 1 to 3 feet apart depending on the height of the variety. Mullein Care Tips Mullein is easy to grow. As self-seeding is common, keeping after the plants that pop up in unwanted areas of your yard might require more effort than taking care of the plant itself. Light Ideally, mullein should be planted in full sun for at least 6 hours every day. Partial shade is only recommended in southern locations. Lack of sunlight often causes the plants to become leggy. Soil and Water Easy to grow in well-drained soil, mullein tolerates a wide range of soil conditions and a pH between 6.5 and 7.0. It does better in poor, sandy soil than in rich soil, which may lead to weak, sprawling plants that need staking. Good drainage, however, is a prerequisite for good growth. Mullein does not tolerate wet or poorly drained growing conditions. Water plants regularly for the first growing season after planting. Temperature and Humidity Mullein grows over a wide temperature range, from climates with cold winters to hot summers. Many popular mullein varieties are Mediterranean species that grow in a dry climate. The combination of heat and high humidity is not conducive to growing mullein. Fertilizer Fertilizer is not only not needed but giving it too many nutrients harms this plant, as mullein thrives in poor soil. Pruning Deadheading mullein will produce more blooms. Cut the flower stalk off the plant just below the lowest blossom. The second and subsequent flushes of bloom are often not as bold as the initial one, but ample flowers will continue to unfurl as long as the growing conditions are conducive. If you don’t want the plant to reseed, which mullein does freely, remove the seed heads before they mature and disperse the seeds. Potting and Repotting Mullein Because of the plant’s considerable height, choose a small variety for container-growing. Select a tall, heavyweight container (terra-cotta is ideal) of at least 1 gallon or larger to fit the taproot of the plant, and make sure it has large drainage holes. Fill it with a combination of well-draining potting mix and compost. Keep in mind that container plants require more frequent watering and fertilization than plants in the landscape. Although mullein is winter-hardy in cold climates, containers expose its roots to the cold. To winterize the pots, insulate them by sinking the container in the ground or by placing it in a second, larger pot to create a planting silo. Repot to a larger pot with fresh potting mix when the root system has reached the sides of the container, or the roots grow out of the drainage holes. Pests and Problems Mulleins are not often bothered by serious pests or diseases. Powdery mildew and fungal leaf spot may occur. In hot climates, the plants are susceptible to spider mites and you might find caterpillars feeding on the foliage. How to Propagate Mullein The best way to propagate mullein is from seeds. Start plants from seed indoors 6 to 8 weeks before the last frost in spring or sow seeds directly in the garden after the danger of frost has passed. Scatter the seeds over the soil surface and do not cover; they need light to germinate. Keep the soil evenly moist. If starting seedlings indoors, transplant them outdoors after the last spring frost. Types of Mullein Olympic Mullein Verbascum olympicum grows an impressive 6-8 feet tall when in bloom. The first year, it produces a rosette of silvery-gray foliage, which persists through the winter. The following year, it sends up branched candelabra of yellow blooms. Olympic mullein may die after blooming, but it usually self-sows to come back in future years. Zone 5-11 'Southern Charm' Mullein This Verbascum hybrid is a seed-propagated variety that bears spikes of flowers in shades of lavender, rose, cream, or buff. Peak bloom occurs in late spring, but the plant may bloom sporadically throughout the summer. It is a short-lived, self-seeding perennial that often blooms the first year from seed. Zone 5-8 White Nettle-Leaved Mullein Verbascum chaixii 'Album', another short-lived variety, has saucer-shaped white flowers accented with rosy purple stamens. These are carried on long spires, sometimes branched. The woolly stems rise to 3 feet. Zone 5-9 'Summer Sorbet' Mullein One of the most floriferous mulleins, this hybrid bears bright raspberry-pink blossoms on 24-inch-long stems. If deadheaded, it continues to bloom all summer. Zone 5-9 Cotswold King The fragrant, lemon-yellow flowers of this biennial variety of Verbascum creticum are bigger than those of any other mullein. The plant grows 5 feet tall and reseeds easily. Zone 5-9 Mullein Companion Plants Yarrow Yarrow thrives with almost no care, shrugging off cold winters, hot and humid summers, drought, and poor soils. It is a good candidate for naturalistic plantings in open areas and along the edges of wooded or other wild places. Its colorful, flat-top blooms rise above clusters of ferny foliage. The tough plants are rarely eaten by deer and rabbits. Zone 3-10 Switchgrass Switchgrass has come a long way from being the plain grass that dominated the native tall-grass prairies of North America. Many of the recent introductions bring longer displays of colors with varieties in glowing red and burgundy. This tall ornamental grass stands up to a variety of harsh conditions, adding both texture and color to a garden. It spreads slowly over time and adds stunning vertical accents wherever it is planted. Zone 4-9 Daylily Daylilies come in thousands of hybrid cultivars, varying in flower size, form, and plant height. Some are fragrant. The flowers are borne on leafless stems. Although each bloom lasts only a single day, superior cultivars carry numerous buds on each scape so bloom time is long, especially if you deadhead daily. The strappy foliage may be evergreen or deciduous. Zone 3-10 Frequently Asked Questions Where is the best place to grow mullein? Easy to grow in well-drained soil and full sun, mullein tolerates a wide range of soil conditions including poor, sandy soil. One requirement for good growth is well-drained soil. It does not tolerate wet soil or poor drainage. Does mullein attract hummingbirds? Although it is not a native plant, the nectar-rich flowers of mullein attract a variety of pollinators, including hummingbirds, bees, and butterflies. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit Sources Better Homes & Gardens is committed to using high-quality, reputable sources—including peer-reviewed studies—to support the facts in our articles. Read about our editorial policies and standards to learn more about how we fact check our content for accuracy. Invasive of the Week: Common Mullein. Matthaei Botanical Gardens University of Michigan.