Common Mullein

Verbascum thapsus

—

Not native

Not native to Alabama. How scores work Is it native here?

Profile 65%

Height: 3–10 feet
Spread: 2–3 feet
Light: Full sun
Soil moisture: Dry to average

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Narrowleaf Sunflower
Helianthus angustifolius
Sun: Full sun, Partial shade. Soil: Usually moist. Flowers: Yellow.
Similar growth form, height, spread
Tall Goldenrod
Solidago altissima
Sun: Full sun, Partial shade. Soil: Dry to average. Flowers: Yellow.
Similar growth form, height, flower color
Common Evening-primrose
Oenothera biennis
Sun: Full sun, Partial shade. Soil: Dry to average. Flowers: Yellow.
Similar growth form, spread, flower color

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At a glance

Life cycle: Biennial
Leaves: Semi-evergreen or evergreen

Not yet recorded · Bloom

Recorded in 47 Alabama counties.

Also found with this plant

Wildlife whose habitat models include habitats this plant grows in, in Alabama. Shared habitat, not food. 117 animals.

Acadian Flycatcher
Empidonax virescens
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Alder Flycatcher
Empidonax alnorum
Birds. 1 shared habitat
American Black Duck
Anas rubripes
Birds. 1 shared habitat
American Coot
Fulica americana
Birds. 1 shared habitat
American Crow
Corvus brachyrhynchos
Birds. 1 shared habitat
American Goldfinch
Carduelis tristis
Birds. 1 shared habitat
American Kestrel
Falco sparverius
Birds. 1 shared habitat
American Redstart
Setophaga ruticilla
Birds. 1 shared habitat
American Robin
Turdus migratorius
Birds. 1 shared habitat
American Woodcock
Scolopax minor
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Baltimore Oriole
Icterus galbula
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Bank Swallow
Riparia riparia
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Barred Owl
Strix varia
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Belted Kingfisher
Megaceryle alcyon
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Black Vulture
Coragyps atratus
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Black-and-White Warbler
Mniotilta varia
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Black-billed Cuckoo
Coccyzus erythropthalmus
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Black-crowned Night-heron
Nycticorax nycticorax
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Blue Grosbeak
Passerina caerulea
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Blue Jay
Cyanocitta cristata
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
Polioptila caerulea
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Blue-winged Warbler
Vermivora pinus
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Broad-winged Hawk
Buteo platypterus
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Brown Creeper
Certhia americana
Birds. 1 shared habitat

All wildlife of Alabama

Ecological relationships

Who uses this plant?

What these records mean

9CaterpillarsGenus host records with ranges including AL

Genus host records with ranges including AL · Verbascum

Endothenia hebesanaVerbena Bud Moth
Feltia jaculiferaDingy Cutworm
Papaipema nebrisStalk Borer
Platynota flavedanaBlack-Shaded Platynota
Spodoptera frugiperdaFall Armyworm Moth
Stenoptilodes taprobanesNarrow Plume Moth
Strymon melinusGray Hairstreak
Trichopolia oviducaRuddy Quaker
Xestia dolosaGreater Black-Letter Dart, Greater Spotted Cutworm

Shropshire & Tallamy 2025, Lepidoptera of North America north of Mexico, ZooKeys 1261 (ODbL)

—BeesSoutheastern regional records

—Specialist beesPollen specialists

—BirdsRecorded genus food-resource interactions; not a state feeding claim

Growing and identification

Plant details

Family: Scrophulariaceae
Hardiness: Zones 3a–9b
Soil pH: Acidic to neutral
Flower color: Yellow

What its natural habitat tells you

Safety has not been reviewed for this plant; check toxicity and thorns before planting.

Growing sources and scope

Flower color · “Yellow” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Hardiness · “Zones 3a–9b” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Height · “3–10 feet” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox (ranked first; Fire Effects Information System: Verbascum thapsus, Minnesota Wildflowers differ)
Leaves · “Semi-evergreen or evergreen” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Life cycle · “Biennial” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Light · “Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
primary_flower_color · “yellow” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Soil · “Occasionally dry” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Soil pH · “Acidic to neutral” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Spread · “2–3 feet” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox

Also known as

Woolly Mullein

Conservation status

Alabama rank	SNA
Global rank	GNR
AL status	Not verified
Federal status	Not verified

Conservation source Global and federal source