Great mullein (Verbascum thapsus), proposed by Akène
🌿 A majestic plant with multiple uses 🌿
The great mullein is a biennial plant remarkable for its imposing height and its unique appearance. In its first year, it forms a dense rosette of large, downy, grayish-green leaves, arranged in a crown at ground level. The following year, it develops a flower stem that can reach 2 meters , covered with bright yellow flowers that bloom all summer. Very popular with pollinators such as bees and butterflies, it also offers its seeds as food for birds.
🌱 Hardy and undemanding , great mullein grows in poor, dry soils, making it an ideal candidate for naturalistic gardens and wild landscapes.
Characteristics of the variety
📅 Flowering : July to September
📏 Height : 200 cm
🌱 Spacing : 50 cm
☀️ Exposure : Sun
🌿 Life cycle : Biennial that reseeds itself
🌾 Soil type : Sandy to loamy, well drained
💧 Soil moisture content : Dry to medium
🦌 Deer Resistance : High
📦 Seeds per packet : 500
Sowing and cultivation
📏 Sowing depth : Surface (seeds require light to germinate)
🌡 Germination time : 15 to 30 days
❄️ Cold stratification : 20 days (optional to improve germination)
🔹 Outdoor method :
1️⃣ Sow directly in place in spring or fall, on the surface without covering the seeds.
2️⃣ Tamp lightly to ensure good contact with the soil.
3️⃣ Water lightly and let nature take its course!
🔹 Indoor method :
🌱 Start sowing 6 weeks before the last frost, then transplant into open ground after the risk of frost.
💦 Keep soil moist but well-drained until germination.
🌿 Easy to grow and resistant , the great mullein adapts well to difficult conditions and reseeds spontaneously from one year to the next.
Medicinal and culinary uses
🍵 An ancestral natural remedy
The leaves and flowers of mullein are used in infusion for their softening, expectorant and anti-inflammatory properties, ideal for soothing the throat, relieving coughs and promoting breathing.
⚠️ Caution : Mullein seeds are toxic to humans and should not be consumed.
Ecological roles and utilities
🐝 A haven for pollinators : Its nectar-rich flowers attract bees, butterflies and other beneficial insects.
🐦 A food source for birds : The seeds feed several species in winter.
🌱 A resilient and useful plant : Ideal for ecological gardens and difficult areas, it enriches biodiversity effortlessly.
Why choose great mullein?
🌞 A hardy and easy to grow plant
🌼 A pollinator magnet
🍵 Recognized medicinal properties
🌿 A spectacular addition to naturalistic gardens
🌿 Add a wild and elegant touch to your garden with the great mullein!
