HOW ABOUT HERBS 



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Weed or Wonder 

 Mullein Takes a Stand 



MADELINE PERRON 



F'erbascum Thapsus or common 

 mullein, known by most of us to 

 be a roadside weed, can prove to be a 

 valuable garden accent and useful 

 herb. The word mullein is derived 

 from the Latin word "mollis" mean- 

 ing soft, referring to the soft leaves 

 covered with tiny hairs. Mullein is a 

 biennial with velvety leaves, some- 

 times a foot long, arranging them- 

 selves in a pretty rosette, low to the 

 ground in its first year of growth. 

 The second year, a long spear shaped 

 flower stalk appears with pale yellow 

 flowers opening sporadically through- 

 out the summer months into fall. It 

 can reach heights of 3 to 8 feet 

 depending on the type of soil that it's 

 grown in. This plant, which has natu- 

 ralized here in the U.S., is very 

 resilient to Mother Nature's wrath, 

 including poor soil, hot dry weather 

 and cold temperatures as low as 30 

 degrees below. It can be found in 

 wastelands and along roadsides, and 



will gladly reseed itself once estab- 

 lished in your yard. 



Mullein is a practical herb with 

 many uses. The large wooly leaves 

 were once used by Native Americans 

 to diaper their little papooses. Some 

 tribes even smoked the dried roots 

 and leaves to treat asthma. The leaves 

 were used as bandages to help soothe 

 inflammation, relieve pain, and pro- 

 tect an injury. Mucilage within the 

 leaves and flowers has the ability to 

 soothe irritated membranes. Another 

 component, saponin, can make 

 coughs more productive. It was also 

 proven to have anti-inflammatory 

 properties. 



During the Civil War, the soldiers 

 made use of mullein for treating res- 

 piratory problems when they ran out 

 of conventional medicines. Tea made 

 from the leaves or flowers can be used 

 to treat chest colds bronchitis and 

 asthma. 



The tall flower stalks were dried 

 and dipped in tallow to use as torches 

 as far back as Roman times. The 



dried leaves and flower spikes are 

 great for tinder. They are highly 

 flammable and are usually readily 

 available for starting a fall campfire. 

 The leaves and smaller rosettes can be 

 pressed for craft projects and the 

 dried leaves and flowers are also use- 

 ful as a filler for potpourri. Most gar- 

 deners are not impressed with the 

 flowers of the common mullein, but 

 there are now some 300 species of 

 verbascum available in many colors 

 and branching stalks that can be very 

 impressive as garden accents. In my 

 garden, I enjoy transplanting the tiny 

 rosettes to places of honor to enjoy 

 the soft gray leaves and pretty ro- 

 settes, pinching back the flower stalk 

 to make a lush base plant. When 

 pruned this way, the grandchildren 

 can reach in and caress the leaves as 

 they meander through my garden. 



Maddy Perron is a Master Gardener 

 with a special interest in herbs. 



Newton Greenhouse 



Quality Plants Qreen & Flowering 



32 Amesbury Road, Newton, NH 03858 

 603-382-5289 

 FAX 603-382-0632 



Liscensed propagator of New Guinea Impatiens 



Garden Center 



Greenhouses, Nursery, and Gift Shop 

 Handmade Gifts and Decorations 



656 South Mammoth Road (Rte. 28A) 



Manchester, NH 03109 



(603) 625-8298 



SPREVG 2003 



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