What kind of flower am I

Question

This plant was found behind my garage-it came from no where. I'm having behind the garage cleared out today. Do you think I can transplant it?

Douglas Hunt · Answer

It's a common mullein, Verbascum thapsis. Most people would think of it as a weed. They have a long taproot, and it is generally a challenge to transplant plants that do.

Eileen Jessop · Answer

Yes Verbascum. Grows wild.

Fenya Kashergen · Answer

I'll bet the bees like it a lot. Good for the environment.

Vickie Wybo-Yuhase · Answer

I get a few every year. I let one grow to all the way, I find the butterflies and bee's do love it. I like the color and softness of the plant itself. I never know where it will appear from year to year.

Mormoormo · Answer

Goldfinches LOVE the seeds. Also, the first year from seed, the leaves form a silvery rosette on the ground.  Very ornamental.  The flower stalk appears the second year.

Lucia · Answer

I have in my garden Lambs Ears,and the flowers are very similar to yours,If the leafs are fleshy ,and the shape of a lambs ears,so you don't have a weed.

Glad E Olah · Answer

Lamb's Ear? We have never let one grow being in the main yard they always get mowed down. I think it is time to allow one to grow somewhere in the yard. Beautiful plant!

Jody D · Answer

I have a few of them in my yard I let them grow. I thought they were Lamb's ear as well :) Love the yellow flowers

Claudia · Answer

My Mom used to call them Lambs Ear also. I saw some at work and noticed they were growing this tall. But I never knew! I pulled them all up this year as weeds, but I heard they will come back, I can always hope :)

Tanya Hough · Answer

This is a mullein plant. It was used medicinally for asthma, but I don't know how. It is a biennial and I have never had it grow where I want it. It used to just pop up randomly and I never had any luck moving or transplanting it. It is rather cool in a so ugly it's cute kinda way.

Yvette Gerace · Answer

How funny, I just posted the same flower yesterday asking the same question ! Found it in one of the gardens I have in a Detroit park. The garden is 4 years old but this came out on nowhere! Mullien and is used for everything much like Aloe. A desired weed and newer to North America.

Angie Spizzirri · Answer

read up on it it has healing properties too

Dorothy · Answer

Easy to confuse first year mullein and lambs ears....they both have silvery fuzzy leaves and grow fairly low to the ground. Lambs ears bloom with a flower spike with pinkish to slightly violet colored flowers while mullein (the wild form) blooms yellow with spikes as much as 6 feet or more high. There are now 'domesticated' varieties with more color choices (from pale yellow to an apricot/peach tone). Wild birds love the seeds so leave them after the blooms are gone and allow the birds to eat from these natural feeders.

Marion Nesbitt · Answer

Like it whatever it is. I'd dig out a good chunk of soil with it, and try to plant it somewhere in the yard that has similar light/moisture conditions.

Katie · Answer

This is Mullein. You are very lucky to have it. I've tried everything to get them to grow in my garden but they are VERY particular about where they choose to thrive. It will likely not transplant. Just leave it where it is and do nothing to it. It will thrive.

Linnie b · Answer

Good idea sue b, We have them here in n central florida. They are always growing along the side of the road which in fl is always sand!

Dorothy · Answer

You can buy seed for them and possibly first year plants here and there. They have been semi-domesticated with more flowers and brighter colors and sell under 'verbascum' Not hard to grow, like sun, fairly well drained soil.

Dorothy · Answer

http://www.gardenguides.com/69327-grow-verbascum.html

Rsbailey · Answer

Yes, it is Mullien I love this volunteer .I think they consider it a  flower in England and call it Verbascum(Might not be spelled right ) but I've had them selfseed for in my flower beds.for many years/ I think mine came in with the maunure I add to my beds The plant. will produce seeds froom the flower head if you let it dry. I have had luck transplanting some of the baby ones if it is early in the year and they are watered wellboth before and for several days after. It helps if its still cool out. When transplanted he larger ones always look awful if they do survive. It is a biennial in Ohio where I live and I think its aso called the candalabra plant. Sometimes when the bloom gets damaged or broken off several smaller spikes will come on to replace it.

The plants I know as lambs ears are smaller ,spread by the roots and are perienials. Their spikes have lavander flowers on them .

Linda Choser · Answer

Yes @Dianna Brown , looks like a Mullein stalk. Mullein is a medicinal plant and I have heard that if it is growing in a certain area the people of that area need to use the plant! It's primary healing function, if I recall, is a muciloge--it clears congestion from the lungs. The Native Americans also used the soft leaves of the plant as toilet 'paper.'

Phyllis Minga · Answer

I have seen this growing on the highway but had no idea what it was. Thank you for the info.

Peg · Answer

native indians used the leaves for all types of things, dried them and used the leaves as wicks for torches, fire starters, used the wooly leaves to line their clothing for warmth in winter, lined moccasins and bedding, used for hygiene purposes too.

Chloe Crabtree · Answer

Verbascum is a genus of over 450 species of flowering plants, common name mullein, in the figwort family Scrophulariaceae. They are native to Europe and Asia, with the highest species diversity in the Mediterranean.

Erect stems bearing profuse saucer-shaped flowers that are usually yellow, but also white, brownish-red, or purple. Individual flowers are short lived but numerous, and flowering takes place over a long time. Most plants in the genus Verbascum are biennials or short lived perennials and a few are annuals; some have semi-evergreen or evergreen rosettes. Most species self-sow, but not as a nuisance, and many seedlings vary slightly from the parent cultivar, thereby creating welcome surprises. Most species are found on dry, stony hillsides and open woodlands, but different species are well-adapted to cottage, gravel, rock gardens, or naturalized areas.

Noteworthy Characteristics

Tall, upright flower spikes with small bright flowers bloom over a long period and create vertical accents in the garden. Leaves are often fuzzy and cast with a silvery sheen.

Care

Fuzzy-leaved species prefer full sun, others will tolerate partial shade. Grow in any well-drained soil. Verbascums tend to flop in fertile soil.

Propagation

Sow seeds of annuals and biennials in spring in containers under a cold frame. Divide in spring. Take root cuttings in winter. Take semi-ripe cuttings of shrubby species in late winter.

Problems

Powdery mildew and other fungal leaf spots. Caterpillars.

What kind of flower am I

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What kind of flower am I

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