Common Mullein

Verbascum thapsus

-15

Harmful

Not native to West Virginia. 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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Do not plant. Listed invasive in West Virginia.

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Jerusalem Artichoke
Helianthus tuberosus
Sun: Full sun, Partial shade. Soil: Dry to average. Flowers: Yellow.
Similar growth form, height, flower color
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

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At a glance

Life cycle: Biennial
Leaves: Semi-evergreen or evergreen

Not yet recorded · Bloom

Recorded in 8 West Virginia counties.

Also found with this plant

Wildlife whose habitat models include habitats this plant grows in, in West Virginia. Shared habitat, not food. 119 animals.

Broad-winged Hawk
Buteo platypterus
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Brown Creeper
Certhia americana
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Brown Thrasher
Toxostoma rufum
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Brown-headed Cowbird
Molothrus ater
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Canada Goose
Branta canadensis
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Carolina Chickadee
Poecile carolinensis
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Carolina Wren
Thryothorus ludovicianus
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Cedar Waxwing
Bombycilla cedrorum
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Cerulean Warbler
Dendroica cerulea
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Chimney Swift
Chaetura pelagica
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Chipping Sparrow
Spizella passerina
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Cliff Swallow
Petrochelidon pyrrhonota
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Common Grackle
Quiscalus quiscula
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Common Nighthawk
Chordeiles minor
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Common Raven
Corvus corax
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Common Yellowthroat
Geothlypis trichas
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Cooper's Hawk
Accipiter cooperii
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Double-crested Cormorant
Phalacrocorax auritus
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Downy Woodpecker
Picoides pubescens
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Eastern Kingbird
Tyrannus tyrannus
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Eastern Phoebe
Sayornis phoebe
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Eastern Screech-owl
Megascops asio
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Eastern Towhee
Pipilo erythrophthalmus
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Eastern Wood-pewee
Contopus virens
Birds. 1 shared habitat

All wildlife of West Virginia

Ecological relationships

Who uses this plant?

What these records mean

9CaterpillarsGenus host records with ranges including WV

Genus host records with ranges including WV · Verbascum

Endothenia hebesanaVerbena Bud Moth
Feltia jaculiferaDingy Cutworm
Melanchra assimilisBlack Arches
Papaipema nebrisStalk Borer
Platynota flavedanaBlack-Shaded Platynota
Spodoptera frugiperdaFall Armyworm 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

West Virginia rank	SNA
Global rank	GNR
WV status	Not verified
Federal status	Not verified

Conservation source Global and federal source