The Millenium Mullein

Top 2. Feb 9, 1999 7:50 AM

» LadyB - Yeah, SAVE ME SOME!!!!

Wow. A WHITE Verbascum thapsus (that's the BIG one, folks....) I think I'd build a shrine around it.

I just this week had the opportunity to make up some Mullein leaf infusion for our innkeeper who had this WRETCHED respiratory virus that was going around. Since we were between annoying little snowstorms, I was able to cut it fresh from the herd of them that popped up all around my greenhouse. I chopped the leaves, put a handful in a one-quart jar, added boiling water and he drank it (VERY well strained through a coffee filter) 4 hours later, and another cup before he went to bed. He said it was the first night in many he was able to SLEEP without his lungs HURTING....good weed, that one!

I'll do some snuffling and see if anyone's met another White One yet.......(what fun!)

-- posted by LadyB

VISIT THE MULLEIN FEST SITE HERE

Top 3. Jan 19, 2000 1:01 PM

» Jojo - mullein fans

This e-mail from another Mullein Fan!

I hope you will stop by our Mullein Fest site. Maybe you will want to start one since you enjoy Mullein. We have had fun growing it in our backyard. We had a party when our first Mullein bloomed and created an Official Mullein Fest Song.

-- posted by Jojo

Top 4. Mar 12, 2000 5:06 PM

» Jojo - Verbascum thapsus rocks

Of course, it's too late now to start your millenium mullein, but if you are just growing it for Thapse, it will still be fine.

Select a bare spot of earth, scatter seeds, then water in. Don't bother covering them -- they're so small that they actually sprout best above ground.

Or start some now for flowers in 2001.

-- posted by Jojo

Top 5. Mar 19, 2000 12:47 PM

» bindweed - WHITE Verbascum thapsus

Hi Jojo,

I don't think I ever ran across a white V. thapsus, however I do have a few other favorites! (How is that pronounced anyway -- sounds like I need a gap between my front teeth.)

I used to grow a Verbascum hybrid called 'Silberkandelaber' It was a lovely verbascum having soft fuzzy silver/gray leaves. Showy gold flowers. July bloom around here.

V. olympicum which is another huge species. Grey-felted leaves from which gold-yellow flowers emerge in summer.

V. chaixii also has a lovely pinkish colored cultivar, the name however escapes me. Usually they are in the white-yellow tones with pink colored eyes.

Heronswood sells a cultivar called V. 'Helen Jonhson' This verbascum carries racemes of copper with purple overtones. It is a short Verbascum, but I love his suggestion to combine in with bronze sedges or Phormium tenax.

Using these tall Verbascums as accents amongst other strong foliage types is a great idea. V. olympicum to the massive dark green leaves of Gunnera maniculata is another planting I have done.

My question is on the medicinal qualities . Of which species are we talking about! V. phoencieum or what!

All Verbascums need great drainage! I always hate it when I say such absolutes.
Dwf. varieties such as dumulosum and V. x 'Letita' are especially fussy about winter dampness. These do okay here in Sequim, but our rainfall is atypical of the Pacific Northwest.

OH JOJO! Add Magnolia cambelli and Osmarea 'Burkwoodii' to plants blooming in March. Skunk cabbage has been up and blooming for weeks now! :-<

Herbert Senft
Visit the friendly Pacific Northwest

-- posted by bindweed