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Common Name: White Mullein

General Information

Verbascum lychnitis is a Biennial up to 1.00 metres tall.
It is harvested from the wild for local use as a source of materials.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

,

Range

Europe, including Britain, from Belgium south and east to Spain, Greece, Siberia and Caucasus.

Habitat

Waste places and calcareous banks on dry soils[, ].

Properties

Habit	Biennial
Height	1.00 m
Pollinators	Flies, Lepidoptera, Self
Self-fertile	Yes
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

An easily grown plant, it 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[].
Hybridizes with other members of this genus, though the progeny are usually sterile[].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

Flower heads are used as a mouse and rat repellent in fruit stores etc[, ].

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[].