As a child I remember plucking the leaves of Common Mullein just to touch them because the leaves were as soft as well worn flannel, their yellow flowers didn’t interest me much but the soft leaves sure did.
Blooming Common Mullein – Nikon D500, f8, 1/2000, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
Now that I am grown up I do like to photograph Common Mullein when they are in bloom, their sunny yellow blooms are a bright spot in mountains canyons, marshes or the desert here in northern Utah. Common Mullein is a weed that originally came from Europe, northern Africa and Asia and it was introduced to North America in the 1700’s. In Europe is it called Great Mullein and it also has the nickname of “Flannel Leaf” or “Wooly Mullein”. The leaves remind me of a common garden plant called Lamb’s Ears.
While I was up in a Wasatch Mountain Canyon in early July I felt I had better stop and take some photos of a clump of mullein that I found because I knew it wouldn’t be long before the flowers looked tattered and worn because the individual flowers only last a single day.
Common Mullein in bloom – Nikon D500, f8, 1/1600, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
I had hoped that a bee or butterfly would fly in so I could take a photo of them with the mullein but that didn’t happen. Oh well, I enjoyed taking these photos and I am happy with the resulting images.
For more information on Common Mullein please click here.
Life is good.
Mia
Click here to see more of my flower, shrub and tree photos.
I always enjoy your flower,insect, cloud and landscape photos so much!!!
We know it as lamb’s ears. For just that delightful texture.
Oh come on, use the real name – Cowboy Toilet Paper!
Fascinating adaptation — “quantity” over “quality.” Thank you so much for sharing these shots and the information with us, Mia.
It’s quite common in the Texas hill country, too. Like you, I find the leaves remarkable. The largest clump of leaves I’ve found was fully three feet across.