Wikijunior:Summer Flowers of Northern New England/Verbascum thapsus< Wikijunior:Summer Flowers of Northern New England
Common Mullein is a tall plant that lives for two years. During the first year it forms a bunch of leaves forming a circle around the plant's root. In the second year, it sends up a tall stem, sometimes over six feet tall. The stem is covered with flowers, but only a few of them are in bloom at a time. The flowers are yellow with five rounded petals. The leaves are covered with a very soft, velvety hair which leads to one of its many nicknames, "lamb's ear." If you find one of these plants, do take the time to feel the soft leaves.