Common Mullein (Rosette Stage)
Verbascum thapsus · Biennial broadleaf weed, not a true grass
AI-generated identification · may be incorrect
Grass Category
Invasive/Weed Plant
Hardiness Zones
USDA Hardiness Zones 3 through 9
Grass Family
Scrophulariaceae
Variety / Cultivar
Wild type
About This Grass
Forms a dense rosette of large, velvety, grayish-green leaves close to the ground during its first year of growth. Leaves are thick and covered in dense, soft hairs.
Blade Characteristics
Not a grass; leaves are broad, oblong to lanceolate, up to 12 inches long, heavily covered in branching trichomes giving a felt-like texture and gray-green appearance.
Root System
Deep taproot system that allows it to survive in dry, poor soils and makes manual removal difficult if not completely extracted.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Europe, northern Africa, and Asia; naturalized worldwide
Growth Habit
Basal rosette forming in the first year, upright flowering stalk in the second year
Sunlight & Water Needs
Requires full sun and dry to moderately moist soils. Extremely drought tolerant once established.
Mowing & Maintenance
High maintenance/pest status in lawns; difficult to control by mowing alone due to the flat rosette growth habit. Hand pulling or herbicide is required.
Special Characteristics
Highly adaptable, prolific seed producer, highly invasive in disturbed soils, pastures, and waste areas.
Ecological Information
Introduced species, often considered a noxious weed in agricultural settings, provides minor shelter for small insects but generally crowds out native vegetation in disturbed habitats.