Silver Mullein Seeds
The silver, frost appearance of this plants stems and leaves make it easy to see why this species of
Mullein is also called
‘Arctic Summer’. Its stems and leaves are covered in a silvery down that gives it an appearance of being covered with frost. The tall frosty spikes with bright yellow flowers make this plant an exceptional addition to the moon garden.
Silver Mullein produces a rosette of silver-gray foliage followed by very tall flower spikes the second year.
The many uses and unique appeal of
Mullein have caused it to be given many names, most of which either describe its fuzzy texture or its resemblance to a candle. The Romans called the herb
verbascum from the Latin barba, to mean "beard." Some historians believe that the common name is derived from the Latin
mollis to mean "soft." Still others contend that its name comes from the Latin word for "malady" or
malandrium suggesting its medicinal virtue.
The similarity the flower stalk bears to a candle was probably once seen to have a great practical purpose since the stalk was once dipped in tallow and set aflame as a torch. Hence the Anglo-Saxon name of
haege to mean "hedge taper." Such torches, known as
"Latines Cadela Regia," were once used during rituals and carried in funeral processions.
In Europe and Asia the power of driving away evil spirits was ascribed to
Mullein. An old superstition existed that witches used lamps and candles that had mullein wicks, which gives the plant another of its names,
“Hags Taper".
In India,
Mulien it has the reputation among the natives as a sure safeguard against evil spirits and magic, and from the ancient classics we learn that it was this plant which Ulysses took to protect himself against the wiles of Circe.
The flowers were valued by Roman women for the yellow dye they yield. They used an infusion of the flowers to dye their hair a golden color. Ancient scripts explain that the ashes of the plant made into a soap will "restore hair which has become gray to its original color". The fuzzy leaves were also known to be worn as stockings to provide extra warmth in cold months
Medicinally,
Mullein is believed to have a plethora of uses ranging from its most common use as a cough suppresant for colds, emphysema, asthma, hay fever, and whooping cough to a remedy for bruises, insect bites, hemorrhoids and earache. A poultice was sometimes made from the leaves or flowers as a treatment for burns and boils. The leaves were once smoked as a remedy for asthma, bronchitis and other inflammatory disorders.
Mullein is also believed to hold anti-inflammatory and antibiotic properties.
The whole plant is said to possess sedative and narcotic properties.
Also available:
Great Mullein Seeds
Dried Mullein Leaf
