mulleins, also known as wool flowers, owe their majestic name to their yellow flowers, which grow upwards in the shape of a candle. We will introduce you to the mullein with its numerous species and provide tips for growing it in your own garden.
mulleins (Verbascum) with about 300 species form a genus within the figwort family (Scrophulariaceae). The natural range of the majestic flowering shrub extends from central and southern Europe to the Near East and North Africa. Because of the mucilage they contain, some species are used medicinally to relieve sore throats and dry coughs.
Mullein: Flowering Period and Properties
mulleins grow as annuals, biennials or perennials, depending on the type and variety. However, most species are biennials. The flowering perennials are characterized by their upright, candle-like inflorescences that can grow up to two meters high. In the first year, biennial mulleins develop basal rosettes of matt green, velvety hairy leaves. Only in the second year do the inflorescences develop, whose numerous, spike-like arranged individual flowers blossom from June to August. Since the mostly yellow individual flowers do not open at the same time, but only gradually, you can enjoy a long flowering period. The individual flowers are composed of five petals, which are usually yellow, but also white, pink, purple or blue in some species or varieties. The unequal petals surround a circle with four or five stamens. The stamens usually have woolly hairs and, like the stamens, can have a different color than the petals.
mulleins are among the most productive sources of pollen and are visited by numerous bees, bumblebees, beetles and other insects during the summer months. In late summer, the flowers give rise to capsule fruits containing many seeds.
The most beautifulMullein Types
mulleins enrich our plant world with around 300 different species and numerous variations and hybrids. About eight different species can be found in European gardens, as well as some hybrids that showcase their beauty. Below we present the most popular types of mullein for your garden.
Great Mullein (Verbascum densiflorum)
The flowers of the large-flowered mullein appear in a bright lemon yellow with a dark center. The popular mullein species reaches a height of around 1.50 m and flowers in July and August. The planting distance should be 1 m.
Dark Mullein (Verbascum nigrum)
Another very popular species for growing in the garden is the black mullein. It is distinguished by its reddish stamens surrounded by yellow petals. With a height of 1 to 1.20 m, the wild perennial remains somewhat smaller than the large-flowered mullein and can be planted somewhat more densely (planting distance: 50 cm). The flowering period lasts from June to August.
White Mullein (Verbascum nigrum 'Album')
Within the species Verbascum nigrum there are numerous other varieties that are particularly suitable for cultivation in the garden. The white-flowered mullein in particular stands out: the clump-forming perennial grows between 40 cm and 1.30 m high and around 60 to 80 cm wide. As the name suggests, the flowers are white and also have red stamens. The flowering period usually lasts from July to August.
Purple mullein (Verbascum phoeniceum)
If you are looking for a species of mullein with purple flowers, you might like the purple mullein. It only grows to a height of 10 to 60 cm and looks rather dainty. Therefore, it can easily be planted with a planting distance of only 35 cm. Its flowers are red-violet to violet and open a little earlier than the other species (May to June).
Tip: Almost all types of mullein are biennial, so they can only remain in the garden for more than two years if you sow them yourself.
Planting mullein in the garden
mulleins can easily be planted in your own garden. They prefer dry and sunny locations and feel extremely comfortable in stone plants or on dry open spaces. Mulleins are simply ideal for dry and warm locations in full sun. The soil should be rather barren and nutrient-poor. In any case, the soil must be well drained, as the drought-loving perennial does not tolerate waterlogging - so the mullein definitely likes sandy soil.
The plants can be planted directly in the bed in spring (from May). The planting distance varies depending on the species. When planting, sufficiently large holes are dug into which the mulleins can be placed. If the soil is loamy, clayey or very humic, it should be mixed with sand to increase its permeability. In addition, a drainage layer of broken pottery or gravel can be placed in the planting hole. If the mullein is to be planted in a pot, the water drainage must be ensured through a corresponding hole in the bottom of the pot. As a substrate, you should use a nutrient-poor potting soil such as our Plantura organic herb and seed soil in order to meet the low nutrient requirements of the mullein. In order to further improve the drainage properties, it is advisable to mix the substrate with additional drainage material such as lava split, sand or crushed expanded clay. After planting, you should also water the plant.
Care of the wool flower
As their location requirements suggest, the cotton flower requires very little water. As a rule, mulleins only need to be watered when it is dry or hot. The nutrient requirement of the wool flower is also low, so that it is sufficient if it is fertilized once a year from the second year with a slow-release fertilizer. Our Plantura universal fertilizer, for example, is suitable for this, as it ensures a long-term supply of all important nutrients. A pruning is not necessary with mulleins. Nevertheless, it is advisable to cut off the faded and dried inflorescences close to the ground before winter. Under the right conditions, a flowering shoot will sprout again from the basal leaf rosette in the following year. On the other hand, if the inflorescences are left after flowering, the mullein will form seeds and thus self-propagate.
Multiply Mullein
The mulleins propagate by forming seeds that come out of the capsules on theEarth fall all by itself. If you want to control the sowing of the mullein a little better, you can harvest the ripe seeds in late summer and then immediately sow them in seed trays or your own pots. You should always choose a nutrient-poor substrate with a high proportion of sand. To germinate, mulleins love warm temperatures between 20 and 23 °C. In addition, the plants do not tolerate waterlogging during cultivation and should therefore be watered carefully with a spray bottle. Note that mulleins need light to germinate - so the seeds should not be covered with soil when sowing. You can then plant the young plants in the desired location in the bed in spring or early summer.
Alternatively, you can also sow the mullein directly into the bed on a dry day in autumn - but you have to note that tits and other birds in particular like to use the mullein seeds as winter food. If you keep a lot of birds in the garden, you should therefore expect that only a fraction of the seeds sown will actually develop into a plant.
Some types of mullein form so-called daughter rosettes. These small offshoots can be dug up in the spring and replanted in the desired spot in the flower bed. With this type of propagation, you can be sure that the new mullein will have the same varietal characteristics as the mother plant. You don't have this certainty when propagating from seeds.
Is the mullein hardy?
Most mulleins tolerate temperatures in the double-digit minus range and are therefore hardy in our latitudes. They do not require winter protection during the winter months and can bloom for many years at a time provided site conditions are right. However, it should be borne in mind that the majority of mulleins are only biennial and therefore usually die in the second winter. But don't worry: the mulleins usually sow themselves again, so there is a high probability that new mulleins will grow in the bed next year.
mullein: effects and uses
mullein has certain ingredients that can relieve symptoms commonly associated with a cold. Therefore, the mullein is a well-known medicinal plant that is often found in medicinal tea mixtures to relieve dry coughs. Of the many Verbascum species, the following three species are used medicinally: TheLarge-flowered mullein (Verbascum densiflorum), common mullein (Verbascum phlomoides) and small-flowered mullein (Verbascum thapsus ). Its flowers contain about 3% mucilage, which can soothe the mucous membrane of the throat when you have a cold. In addition, the flowers contain triterpene saponins, which can dissolve viscous secretions. With this they are able to help with a cold and to free the respiratory tract.
To relieve cold symptoms, you can brew a tea from the mullein blossoms as a home remedy. For this purpose, three to four teaspoons - which corresponds to about one and a half to two grams - of finely chopped, dried mullein blossoms are poured into a cup of boiling water. After 10 to 15 minutes, the plant parts are strained and the tea is ready for consumption. The recommended maximum daily dose of dried mullein flowers is about three to four grams for adults.
Other types of mullein contain phytochemicals that can be toxic to fish and other animals. Before using mullein products, it should therefore be clarified exactly which type it is. When using mullein blossoms, always ensure that they are properly dried and stored - moldy or rotten blossoms should not be used under any circumstances. If you are unsure about use or dosage, consult your family doctor or pharmacist.
If you are interested in other medicinal plants, you can continue reading our special article on the 10 best medicinal plants to grow in your own garden.