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Common Mullein

Verbascum thapsus

-15
Harmful

Not native to Mississippi. 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
See native alternatives

Do not plant. Listed invasive in Mississippi.

Plant this instead

Choose your county to list local plants first.

  • 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

  • Wrinkle-leaf Goldenrod
    Solidago rugosa

    Sun: Full sun, Partial shade. Soil: Somewhat dry to moist. Flowers: Yellow.

    Similar growth form, spread, flower color

Refine these alternatives in the finder

Check a whole list of plants

At a glance

Life cycle
Biennial
Leaves
Semi-evergreen or evergreen

Not yet recorded · Bloom

Recorded in 38 Mississippi counties.

Ecological relationships

Who uses this plant?

What these records mean

9CaterpillarsGenus host records with ranges including MS

Genus host records with ranges including MS · 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
Also known as

Woolly Mullein

Conservation status

Mississippi rankSNA
Global rankGNR
MS statusNot verified
Federal statusNot verified

Conservation source Global and federal source

Sources