By planting the mullein you are getting a hardy perennial in the garden that also requires little maintenance but blooms beautifully.
The extremely robust mullein (Verbascum), which grows up to 2 meters tall, has been considered a particularly effective medicinal plant for coughs for centuries. Which is why it can still be found in many gardens, especially in rural areas. Because from the yellow, dried flowers, sometimes also from the leaves, a tea against coughing can be prepared very easily. The dried flowers are also suitable for adding to various types of tea.
New breeds in different colours
mulleins are also very popular with insects. They serve them as a food plant. In the meantime, new varieties of the mullein are also available in specialist shops, such as the Purple mullein, which has bright purple flowers. But you can also find white and pink flowering mulleins, sometimes even perennial varieties, in specialist shops.
If you would like to get this great medicinal plant in your garden, then we have some tips for you here that you should consider when planting and caring for the mullein.
| mullein (Verbascum) | |
|---|---|
| Growth: | upright growth, clumpy |
| Growth: | 40 - 200 cm |
| Growth: | 60 - 100 cm |
| Flower: | yellow flower, flowering period: June to August |
| Location: | Sun |
| Floor: | slightly dry, permeable |
Plant Mullein
Perennial
The hardy mulleins naturally belong to the biennial plants, which only bloom in the second year of life. The buds - along the thick stems - burst open from bottom to top and produce many bright yellow flowers (natural variety). For this reason, mulleins are often offered in nurseries as annual perennial plants and can be planted immediately in the garden bed (even in spring). They prefer a dry, sunny location.
» Tip
After flowering shouldremove the mullein from the flower bed, unless it is a cultivated species (perennial plant).
Seed Cultivation
You can also plant the mullein in your garden using seeds. Here you should pay attention to a particularly dry, nutrient-poor, water-permeable soil with the strongest possible sunlight. Simply scatter the seeds in autumn, cover with a little soil and give it a little watering. A large leaf rosette with velvety soft leaves then develops in the first year.
» Tip
After flowering, mulleins develop their own seeds (volunteers), which you can easily reuse for the coming garden year.
Caring for Mullein
The heyday of the mullein begins in June and usually ends in August - sometimes lasting until the beginning of September. During this time, the mullein requires almost no care at all. You should also largely refrain from giving fertilizer - you can only give a little complete fertilizer in spring in the second year.
mullein also likes to be dry and only needs to be watered moderately once during prolonged hot temperatures.