Mullein Leaf 

(Verbascum thapsus)

Mullein is one of the most visually dramatic wildflowers of the Northern Hemisphere — a towering biennial of the figwort family (Scrophulariaceae) that in its second year sends up a single, stout flowering spike that can reach 6–8 feet (2–2.5 meters) in height, topped with a dense column of small yellow flowers. Verbascum thapsus — Great Mullein or Common Mullein — is native to Europe, North Africa, and Asia, and has naturalized so thoroughly across North America that it is now one of the most recognizable roadside wildflowers on the continent, found growing in disturbed ground, roadsides, fields, and rocky slopes from coast to coast.

The plant’s most distinctive feature is its extraordinary leaves — large, soft, densely woolly, and covered in a thick mat of branched, star-shaped (stellate) hairs that give them a velvety, almost felt-like texture and a silvery-grey appearance. This dense covering of hairs is an adaptation to dry, rocky environments, reducing water loss and reflecting intense sunlight. The leaves were historically used as natural insoles — placed inside shoes for warmth and cushioning — and the tall, dried flower stalks were dipped in tallow or fat and used as torches by the Romans, giving mullein one of its oldest common names: “torch plant” or “hag’s taper.” The Roman naturalist Pliny the Elder described this use in his Naturalis Historia (77 CE). In the American colonial period, mullein was one of the first European herbs to naturalize in North America, and Native American peoples — including the Cherokee, Mohegan, and Navajo — quickly adopted it into their own botanical traditions after European contact.

The 17th-century English herbalist William Coles documented mullein’s use for livestock in his Adam in Eden (1657), and it has been a staple of both European and American folk herbal traditions ever since. It was listed in the United States Pharmacopoeia from 1888 to 1936. Our Mullein Leaf is Certified Organic, available in Cut & Sifted and Powder forms.

The leaves contain a rich array of phytochemicals including saponins (verbascosaponin), iridoid glycosides (aucubin, catalpol, ajugol), flavonoids (luteolin, apigenin, kaempferol, quercetin, rutin), phenylethanoid glycosides (verbascoside / acteoside — one of the most studied phenylethanoids in botanical research), mucilage (polysaccharides that give mullein tea its characteristic smooth, slightly viscous quality), tannins, triterpene saponins, coumarin, and volatile oils.

Product Highlights

• Cut & sifted and powdered leaf of Verbascum thapsus — Great Mullein / Torch Plant / Hag’s Taper
• Certified Organic — available in C/S and Powder forms
• The “torch plant” — Roman soldiers dipped the dried stalks in tallow to make torches, documented by Pliny the Elder (77 CE)
• Listed in the United States Pharmacopoeia from 1888 to 1936
• Adopted by Cherokee, Mohegan, and Navajo peoples — one of the most widely used naturalized herbs in North America
• Rich in verbascoside, aucubin, luteolin, saponins, and mucilage
• Available in Certified Organic Cut & Sifted and Powder forms

How to Use

Herbal Tea: Steep 1–2 teaspoons of cut & sifted mullein leaf in 8 oz of hot water for 10–15 minutes; strain well through a fine cloth or coffee filter to remove the fine leaf hairs, which can irritate the throat if not strained. The tea has a mild, slightly sweet, earthy flavor with a characteristic smooth, slightly mucilaginous quality from the leaf’s polysaccharides. Smoking Blends: Mullein leaf is one of the most popular base herbs for herbal smoking blends — it burns smoothly and evenly, has a mild, pleasant flavor, and produces a light, cool smoke. Commonly used as a base or filler in herbal smoking mixtures. Powder: Stir into smoothies or encapsulate for a convenient supplement form. Tincture: Use in alcohol or glycerin-based tincture preparations. Herbal Formulas: Combines well with marshmallow root, licorice root, thyme, and elecampane in herbal tea blends. Topical: Infuse in oil for use in salves and topical preparations.

Available in Certified Organic Cut & Sifted (4 oz, 8 oz, 16 oz) and Powder (4 oz, 8 oz, 16 oz).

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Strain mullein tea carefully through a fine cloth or coffee filter before drinking — the fine leaf hairs can irritate mucous membranes if not removed. Consult your healthcare provider before use, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medications, or have a medical condition. Keep out of reach of children.