This mullein is now over 6 feet tall. It is my favorite wild plant by far.
this post was submitted on 13 Jul 2024
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FYI for everyone: Mullein is an invasive in North America, if that is where you live. In Europe, it is native.
Thanks for the note.
It should also be noted that while they are invasive, they have been established (in my part of Canada) since at least the early 1700s. I wouldn't go importing mullein and planting them on purpose, but I will also not destroy them on my own land. They are like a mini-ecosystem all of their own. And when the bees are done with the clover they can be found on these mullein more than any other plant in our 'yard'.
And while technically invasive, they are neither aggressive nor hard to manage ( if you are not trying to manage a million square KM of national Park ;) )
They are useful for toilet paper in a pinch, I will give them that. While they have been here a while, they still displace native plants and their associated insect species. Letting them persist will push them into more habitats and ecosystems that they will distrupt. Some bees, mostly invasive honey bees, may be attracted but native bees need native flowers. Native moths, butterflies, wasps, ants, etc need native plants to grow and place their young. It can never be a zero sum game, but they still do harm. Cheers.
I was told the "effectiveness" as toilet paper was as a prank by foresters to newbies and purportedly causes an itchy butt hole when all the little fibres from the leaves which make them soft then break off and coat your crack.
I do hate them, though, as they totally take over disturbed areas and are difficult to remove.