Tall, stout, leafy stems, flannel-like leaves, which explains its other common name, flannel mullein.
Biennial; leaves elliptic, densely woolly on both sides, first year leaves form a basal rosette; flowers yellow, borne in dense spikes, flowers 5-parted, some or all of the filaments bearded, anthers yellow, red or orange.
Habitat
Disturbed soils on roadsides, waste areas, and burned areas.
Flower Characteristics
The second year of its 2-year cycle, 5-petaled yellow flowers bloom along a 12 to 24 inch spike-like cluster at the top of a 2 to 6 foot stem. The approximately 1 inch wide flowers open from the top down.
Leaf and Stem Characteristics
The first year of its 2-year cycle, common mullein produces a basal rosette of large velvety leaves to 15 inches long. The second year, upper leaves clasp a 2 to 6 foot stem and become progressively smaller toward the top.
Fruit and Seed Characteristics
The woolly egg-shaped seedpods are 2-chambered and contain numerous tiny seeds.
Seeds are small, angular, brownish <1/16 inch long.