Flora of Pennsylvania

Verbascum blattaria

Verbascum blattaria moth mullein

Plant grows in the wild/spontaneously Add to MyPlants View Locations

An introduced biennial herb that grows in man-disturbed habitats, or along roadsides.  There are yellow and white forms, yellow being more common.  Moth mullein has large-flowered racemes and leaves that vary in shape, making it fairly easy to identify.

Grows in fields, along roadsides, sometimes wood edges.

Present in most counties of the state.

Wetland codes
EMP: UPL
NCNE: FACU



Flowers May through July.

noobgardner (Guest)

Posted on 28 June 2026

I Spotted this plant in one of our vegetable garden beds that is not in use This year and was neglected. Soil is dry here and the spot is mostly sunny. We've never planted these so I'm thinking a bird may have dropped some seed. We're just outside of NE Philly.

 Posted By Admin: @noobgardner Moth mullein loves exactly the kind of spot you described - a dry, sunny bed that’s been left alone for a while. Since you’ve never planted it, a bird very likely have dropped the seed, they travel that way all the time.
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Verbascum blattaria moth mullein

Plant grows in the wild/spontaneously
Add to MyPlants View Locations
Verbascum blattaria gallery
Plant Summary
biennial or short-lived perennial forb introduced, common flower color: yellow
Common Names
moth mullein