07/05/2026
**Correction: Muellin has been naturalized in the US after it was introduced by settlers in the 1700s**
There’s a good chance you’ve walked past mullein without realizing it. This tall, velvety-leaved plant is often considered a w**d, but it has been valued for centuries in traditional herbal practices.
In its first year, mullein grows as a soft rosette of fuzzy leaves. During its second year, it sends up a striking flower stalk that can reach 6–8 feet tall, producing bright yellow blooms that attract bees and other pollinators.
Traditionally, mullein has been used to:
🌿 Support respiratory health
🌼 Soothe occasional coughs
🐝 Provide an important nectar source for pollinators
🏡 Add beauty and biodiversity to roadsides, fields, and gardens
If you’re foraging, be sure to harvest from areas that haven’t been treated with herbicides or exposed to roadside contaminants, and always positively ID a plant before touching or using it.
