Moth mullein

Discuss this plant with the guide — choose this profile as a possible match and prepare your observations for Colorado Plants & Practical Care.

Verbascum blattaria

Colorado noxious weed · List B — Stop the spread. CO-rules-2025

Established in some areas. Requirements vary by location: eradication, containment or suppression to stop further spread. This is a management category, separate from danger ratings. Category source · What the lists mean.

Long-lived seeds sustain infestations. Exposure help.

Identification caveat: Unlike common mullein, this species does not have a thickly woolly rosette. Confirm the whole plant, not flower color alone.

Still researching this plant

This is a sourced working profile. Evidence is incomplete for People, Dogs & cats, Other animals. Identification and source-photo limits are explained below. Independent botanical and veterinary review is pending. Uncertainty is not a finding that the plant is safe.

Three views of this plant

Source-identified reference photographs; these are not a complete identification key. A source location outside Colorado does not establish local occurrence.

**capsules** — Round dry moth-mullein capsules on short stalks beside a slender main stem, with a 10 mm scale.
Stefan.lefnaer · CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo source and identification
Original record · Original image
Source-identified photograph with visual consistency check Fruits Taxonym: Verbascum blattaria ss Fischer et al. EfÖLS 2008 ISBN 978-3-85474-187-9 Location: Donaugraben west of Stetten, district Korneuburg, Lower Austria - ca. 170 m a.s.l. Habitat: dam Source labeling and visible consistency checked; not an independent specimen determination.
Wikimedia-generated thumbnail rescaling only; downloaded bytes unchanged. Gallery display preserves the full image; the catalog preview uses a CSS crop.

**flowers** — A pale yellow moth-mullein flower with a purple center on a slender flowering stem.
Cbaile19 · CC0
Photo source and identification
Original record · Original image
Source-identified photograph with visual consistency check Yellow form of Moth Mullein ( Verbascum blattaria ) blooming beside the Monongahela, South Side, Pittsburgh Source labeling and visible consistency checked; not an independent specimen determination.
Wikimedia-generated thumbnail rescaling only; downloaded bytes unchanged. Gallery display preserves the full image; the catalog preview uses a CSS crop.

**habit** — Tall, slender moth-mullein flowering stems with broad lower leaves growing in dry grassland.
Stefan.lefnaer · CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo source and identification
Original record · Original image
Source-identified photograph with visual consistency check Habitus Taxonym: Verbascum blattaria ss Fischer et al. EfÖLS 2008 ISBN 978-3-85474-187-9 Location: „Aspelfeld“ 1,5 km SE Alt-Prerau, district Mistelbach, Lower Austria - ca. 180 m a.s.l. Habitat: non-calcareous, sandy fallow land Source labeling and visible consistency checked; not an independent specimen determination.
Wikimedia-generated thumbnail rescaling only; downloaded bytes unchanged. Gallery display preserves the full image; the catalog preview uses a CSS crop.

Recognize

A biennial with toothed leaves and loose stalks of white or yellow flowers with purple centers. J-moth-mullein

Plants & habitat

A garden escape in pastures and hay fields. Seeds persist, requiring monitoring after removal. J-moth-mullein

People

The reviewed sources do not establish species-specific ingestion effects or a safe exposure amount for people. Missing evidence does not establish safety.

Dogs & cats

The reviewed sources do not establish species-specific ingestion effects or a safe exposure amount for dogs or cats. Missing evidence does not establish safety.

Other animals

The reviewed sources do not establish species-specific ingestion effects or a safe exposure amount for livestock. Missing evidence does not establish safety.

Before taking action

Confirm identification and the requirements of your county weed program. For chemical treatment, follow the current product label, including restrictions around animals and water. S27

References

CO-rules-2025 — Colorado Noxious Weed Act rules, 8 CCR 1206-2, Colorado Secretary of State / Department of Agriculture. Accessed 2026-09-07T01:07:48+00:00. Locator: Parts 3.1, 4.1, 5.1; management provisions; effective May 15, 2025.
J-moth-mullein — Moth Mullein, Jefferson County, Colorado. Accessed 2026-09-07T01:08:57+00:00. Locator: Species description and management.
S27 — 2103 – Colorado Noxious Weeds, PlantTalk Colorado · CSU Extension. Accessed 2026-09-07T00:23:57+00:00. Locator: List A, B and C management categories.

Content revised 2026-09-07 03:50:00Z · Source checks dated separately in the references.