Mullein is a plant that has been used for centuries for its medicinal properties. The leaves and flowers of the plant are often used to make teas and infusions that can help treat respiratory ailments. But did you know that there are other plants that look like mullein? Here are three plants that you may not have realized look like mullein.
How To Identify Mullein?
Mullein (Verbascum thapsus) is a flowering plant that is native to Europe and Asia. It has pale, fuzzy leaves and long flowering stalks that can grow up to six feet tall. The plant is often found in disturbed areas, such as roadside ditches or vacant lots.
Mullein has a long history of use as an herbal medicine. The leaves can be infused to make a tea that is used to treat respiratory ailments such as bronchitis or pneumonia.
The flowers can also be used to make an oil that is effective in treating ear infections. Mullein is an easy plant to identify, and its versatility makes it a valuable addition to any herbal medicine cabinet.
Plants That Look Like Mullein
Stachys Byzantina(Lambs ear)
Stachys byzantina, more commonly known as lamb’s ears, is a perennial plant that is easily recognized by its velvety soft, wooly evergreen leaves. The curved shape leaves are silver to gray-green color and appear in basal rosettes.
Lamb’s ear is often mistaken for mullein, but it has distinguishing features that will help you identify the plant. Lamb’s ear plants are native to Armenia, Iran, and Turkey but have become widely distributed throughout Europe and North America. The plant gets its name from the similarity of its leaves to the ear of a lamb.
Stachys byzantina is a popular choice for gardens due to its soft texture and silver-gray coloration. The plant is also low maintenance and deer resistant.
Lamb’s ear plants can be propagated by division or seed, and they will typically bloom in the late spring or early summer. The flowers are pollinated by bees and other insects that visit the plant for pollen and nectar.
Gigitalis Purpurea(Foxglove)
Gigitalis purpurea, also known as foxglove or common foxglove, is a herbaceous biennial plant, meaning that it takes two years to complete its life cycle.
The plant can grow to be quite tall, with purple flowers that bloom in the summer. foxgloves are beautiful plants, but they are also poisonous plants that contain digitalis and other cardiac glycosides, a toxic compound that can cause heart arrhythmias and other serious health problems.
The shape of the leaf is like that of an oar with blunt teeth at its edge. In year one, these broad spear-like leaves form a rosette or clump near soil level; however, those on flowering stems don’t have stalks (petioles).
Foxglove and mullein often look alike at first glance because they both have leaves and flowers that have some similar appearance. The best way to distinguish characteristics is via their flowers. Foxglove flowers are purple whereas Mullein ones will bloom at random yellow flowers.
The flower of this plant is typically purple, but depending on the variety, some flowers may be pink or white. It has a heavily spotted interior surface with coloration throughout its tube-like petals and stamen, which emit a very pleasant fragrance when pollinated by bees in early summer.
Seed sowing is one of the most common methods for propagation, and it can be done either indoors or outdoors. The division is another easy way to propagate foxgloves.
Symphytum Officinale(Common comfrey)
Symphytum Officinale, commonly referred to as Comfrey, is an erect perennial that grows stout and often branches from a central stem. It’s also another woolly plant that someone can mistake to identify as a Mullein plant.
Its lance-shaped leaves are deep green and drooping clusters of small, bell-shaped flowers range from white to purple depending on the variety. Though traditionally used in herbal medicine, care must be taken to not overuse Comfrey root or leaf as it contains certain toxin levels that can become dangerous when consumed too often.
Its immune system-boosting effects are well documented and should be considered when talking about complementary treatments for various ailments.
Conclusion
As you can see, there are a few plants that look like Mullein. If you’re ever unsure if a plant is Mullein or not, it’s always best to consult with a professional. We hope this article was helpful in distinguishing the difference between these three plants according to our research.
If you are interested in another plant like the pencil cactus then you can see on this blog article 12 plants that look like pencil cactus.