Mullein: A Plant With Many Uses

Mullein is one of those plants that is hard to miss once you know what you're looking for.

The first year, it forms a large rosette of soft, fuzzy leaves close to the ground. The following year, it sends up a tall flower stalk covered with little yellow flowers. By the time it is finished blooming, it can stand taller than most of the plants around it.

For such a common plant, mullein has quite a history.

Traditionally, different parts of the plant have been used for different purposes, including the leaves, flowers, seeds, and roots. I think that's one of the things that makes mullein so interesting. It's not just a plant you harvest once and forget about. There is something to gather and learn from it throughout its life cycle.

Let's take a look at each part.

First-Year Mullein: The Leaves

During its first year, mullein puts all of its energy into producing that beautiful basal rosette.

The leaves are large, gray-green, and covered with tiny hairs that give them their soft, almost velvety feel.

Mullein leaf has traditionally been used primarily as a respiratory herb. An infusion of the dried leaves has been used for coughs and irritated respiratory passages, and it is often combined with other herbs in respiratory tea blends.

The leaves have also traditionally been used externally in poultices and other preparations for minor skin irritations.

Harvesting Mullein Leaf

I like to harvest the leaves while they are healthy and vigorous, before the plant sends up its flower stalk.

Choose clean, healthy leaves and avoid plants growing alongside roadsides or areas that may have been sprayed with chemicals.

Because mullein leaves are so fuzzy, I don't generally wash them unless they really need it. If they do need washing, I make sure they have plenty of time to dry completely before putting them away.

The easiest way to dry mullein leaves is to spread them in a single layer on a screen or drying rack somewhere warm, dry, and out of direct sunlight.

You can also bundle a few leaves together and hang them, but because the leaves are thick and hold some moisture, good airflow is important.

They are ready to store when they are completely dry and crumble easily rather than bending.

A Note About the Fuzz

Those little hairs that make mullein so recognizable can also be irritating.

If you're making mullein tea, it's a good idea to strain it through a fine mesh strainer or cloth before drinking. You don't want all those little hairs ending up in your cup.

Second-Year Mullein: The Flowers

The second year is when mullein really makes itself known.

A tall stalk rises from the center of the rosette, sometimes reaching several feet high, and yellow flowers begin opening along it.

The flowers don't all open at once. Instead, the plant continues producing flowers as the season progresses.

Mullein flowers have a long history of traditional use for coughs and respiratory irritation. They are also probably best known for their use in herbal oil preparations.

Harvesting Mullein Flowers

If you're harvesting mullein flowers, you'll be making several trips to the plant rather than harvesting the entire stalk at once.

Pick the fresh yellow flowers as they open. I like to gather them on a dry day, after the morning dew has dried.

The flowers can be spread out in a single layer on a drying screen or tray. They are small and delicate, so they usually dry much more quickly than the leaves.

Once completely dry, store them in an airtight glass jar away from heat and sunlight.

And don't feel like you need to strip every flower from the plant. Leave plenty behind for the plant to continue its life cycle and for the bees and other pollinators that visit the flowers.

Mullein Flower Oil

Mullein flower oil is probably one of the most familiar preparations made from this plant.

Traditionally, the fresh yellow flowers are infused in oil and the resulting oil is used externally, particularly around the ears.

If you make mullein oil yourself, be mindful of the moisture contained in fresh flowers. Water and oil don't mix well, and moisture left in an herbal oil can lead to spoilage.

Some herbalists use dried flowers for this reason, while others use the traditional fresh-flower method and take extra care with the preparation and storage.

And one important caution: herbal oils should not be put into the ear if there is a possibility of a perforated eardrum, ear tubes, significant drainage, or injury.

What About the Seeds?

After the flowers finish blooming, mullein begins producing seed capsules.

Each little capsule contains a surprising number of tiny seeds, and one plant can produce a lot of them.

The seeds have a few interesting historical uses. Some traditional sources describe them being used in fishing because compounds in the seeds can affect fish. That's certainly an interesting piece of plant history, but it isn't a use I would recommend, it's actually illegal in Colorado (and I'm sure other states).

The seeds have also appeared in traditional herbal preparations, but their medicinal use isn't nearly as well established as the leaves and flowers.

For me, the most useful thing about mullein seeds is much simpler:

They make more mullein.

If you have a healthy patch growing on your property, allowing some plants to mature and drop their seeds is an easy way to encourage future plants.

You can also collect a few seeds to start your own plants elsewhere.

And Then There's the Root

The root is probably the least talked-about part of mullein.

There are traditional references to using mullein root for things such as toothache, stiffness, and other complaints, but its medicinal use is not nearly as well documented as the leaves and flowers.

That doesn't mean it isn't interesting.

It just means I think it's important to be honest about the difference between a traditional use and something we have a good body of evidence or established herbal practice behind.

If you're learning mullein for your home apothecary, I would concentrate on getting to know the leaves and flowers first.

The root is worth knowing about, but it doesn't need to be the first thing you reach for.

Harvesting Mullein Throughout Its Life

One of the nice things about mullein is that you don't have to harvest everything at once.

First year: Harvest healthy leaves from the rosette.

Second year: Harvest the yellow flowers as they open throughout the summer.

Later in the second year: Allow some flowers to mature into seed capsules so the plant can reproduce.

Root: Traditionally harvested for various purposes, although its medicinal use is less well established.

This also gives you a chance to observe the plant throughout its entire life cycle instead of seeing it only as something to collect.

Drying and Storing Mullein

Mullein is one of those herbs where proper drying really matters.

The leaves and flowers should be completely dry before being stored. Any remaining moisture can lead to mold or spoilage.

I prefer to dry mine somewhere warm with good airflow and out of direct sunlight. Once the plant material is crisp and completely dry, I put it into clean glass jars and label them with the plant, part, and year.

That last part may seem unnecessary when you're starting out, but after a few years of harvesting herbs, you'll be glad you know exactly what is in each jar and when you gathered it.

Keep dried mullein somewhere cool, dark, and dry.

A Plant Worth Getting to Know

Mullein is one of those plants that rewards you for paying attention.

The first year, you may walk right past that fuzzy rosette without giving it a second thought.

The next year, that same plant is suddenly standing several feet tall with a stalk of bright yellow flowers.

And if you let it finish its work, you'll eventually have seeds for the next generation.

There is something satisfying about that.

Instead of thinking of the plant as simply a collection of useful parts, you start to see the whole thing—the leaves, the flowers, the seeds, the roots, and the seasons in between.

That's what I enjoy most about herbalism.

The more you learn about a plant, the more familiar the landscape becomes.

Mullein is no longer just a tall weed along the roadside.

It's mullein.

And once you know it, you'll start seeing it everywhere.