Skip navigation

Weed Identification

Virginia Tech College of Agriculture and Life Science Virginia Cooperative Extension

moth mullein

Family

Scrophulariaceae

Scientific Name

Verbascum blattaria
Weed photograph 1
Weed photograph 2
Weed photograph 3
Weed photograph 4
Weed photograph 5
Weed photograph 6
Weed photograph 7
Weed photograph 8

Habit

A biennial that is closely related to common mullein but lacks hairs and has leaves with toothed margins. Moth mullein is primarily a weed of pastures, hay fields, roadsides, rights-of-ways, and abandoned areas.

Leaves

Leaves initially develop as a basal rosette of leaves during the first year of growth and then occur alternately along the flowering stem during the second year of growth. Leaves are without hairs (glabrous), oblong in outline, tapering to a point, with distinctly toothed margins.

Identifying Characteristics

The rosette growth habit, hairless leaves with toothed margins, and yellow and purple or white and purple flowers are all characteristics that help in the identification of moth mullein. Common Mullein (Verbascum thapsus) is closely related to moth mullein but is generally much larger with woolly foliage and stems. Additionally, common mullein has a terminal cluster of yellow flowers that do not occur on peduncles, whereas moth mullein has yellow to white flowers with purple tinges that do occur on peduncles.

Flower Seed Head

Occur on the ends of the erect flowering stems that are produced during the second year of growth. Individual flowers are yellow to white in color, usually with some tinge of purple within. Flowers consist of 5 petals and each flower occurs on an individual flower stalk (peduncle).

Seed Fruit

A round capsule.

Where Found

It is distributed throughout the United States.

Growth Habit

Varies: 
upright and nonwoody, 
prostrate and nonwoody

Thorns or Spines

not present

Approximate Flower Diameter

Varies: 
quarter, 
half dollar, 
larger

Dominant Flower Color

Varies: 
white, 
yellow, 
orange

Flower Symmetry

Varies: 
radial symmetery, 
bilateral symmetry

Leaf Hairs

no hairs

Leaf Shape

Varies: 
round, 
lance, 
oval, 
spatulate

Leaf Arrangement

Varies: 
alternate, 
rosette

Leaf Margin

Varies: 
entire, 
serrated

Leaf Structure

simple

Leaf Stalk

Varies: 
none, 
shorter than leaf

Stem Hairs

Varies: 
has hairs, 
no hairs

Stem Cross Section

round or oval

Milky Sap

not present

Root Structure

Varies: 
fibrous, 
taproot

Life Cycle

biennial

Plant Type

Herb