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Common Name: Mullein

General Information

Verbascum densiflorum is a Biennial up to 1.20 metres tall.
It is harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine..

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

C. Europe. Occasionally naturalized in Britain[].

Habitat

Waste places, railway embankments and similar dry sunny localities[].

Properties

Medicinal Rating
Habit	Biennial
Height	1.20 m
Pollinators	Insects, Self
Self-fertile	Yes
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Succeeds in most well-drained soils, including dry ones, preferring a sunny position[]. Dislikes shade and wet soils[]. Thrives on chalk[]. Prefers a light soil[].
Plants are hardy to about -20°c[].
This species is closely related to V. phlomoides[]. Hybridizes with other members of this genus, though the progeny are usually sterile[].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

The flowers and leaves are anodyne, antiseptic, astringent, demulcent, emollient, expectorant and vulnerary[, , , , , , , ]. An infusion is used internally in the treatment of various respiratory complaints including coughs, bronchitis, asthma and throat irritations[, ].
An infusion of the fresh or dried flowers in olive oil is used to treat earaches, sores, wounds, boils etc[].
The plant is harvested when in flower and should be dried quickly and with care or it will lose its medicinal qualities[, ].

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed - sow late spring to early summer in a cold frame and only just cover the seed[]. Germination usually takes place within 2 - 3 weeks. When they are large enough to handle, prick out the seedlings into individual pots and plant them out in late summer. The seed has a long viability[].