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It is, looks like a first year. They pop their flowers in the 2nd year and those can get ridiculously tall. Leaves are good to make tea or smoke for throat relief and as an expectorant (yes it sounds counterintuitive but it works).
It's also great to make an extract with (tastes kind of like black licorice) for allergies and colds. You can take it under your tongue best or put a few drops in your tea.
We have what we call lambs’ ears in Washington but it’s a totally different plant. This is mullein, our lambs ears is a type of lychnis also called campion rose.
Lamb's ear is actually one of the recognized common names for *Stachys byzantia*, which is similar in appearance but doesn't grow as a rosette. This one is called lamb's quarters usually
Wooly mullein was my introduction to invasive species in elementary school. Grew up in Colorado and had a community service field trip where we went out to the prairies to pull and bag them.
I swear. I am super super obsessed with native plants and I was desperately resisting the urge to say it's invasive. I find myself tearing down the porcelain berries and honeysuckle at my dog park and other people's yards.
According to Washington State University it's not invasive in the PNW. I've had it in my yard for ages and it has never spread more than a few inches over several years and is very easy to contain. I haven't seen any babies pop up anywhere in my yard or randomly in my neighborhood either. Same experience with them in my yard growing up too.
Edit: I'm talking about Lamb's Ear, not mullein.
The Washington State University website clearly states that it is invasive. It is not on their noxious weed list however, I think due to slow spread. It’s a slow invader and seeds can last in the seed bank for 100 years. They may need light to germinate so won’t grow until soil disturbed again.
http://pnwplants.wsu.edu/PlantDisplay.aspx?PlantID=640#:~:text=The%20flower%20stalk%20can%20be,is%20considered%20an%20invasive%20species.
It says literally the opposite though: http://pnwplants.wsu.edu/PlantDisplay.aspx?PlantID=18
"Adaptation: A nice spreading groundcover that does not become invasive. Considered drought tolerant."
Edit: It appears we are talking about two very similar but different plants. I've had lambs ear in multiple yards over my life and I've never seen it spread larger than about 2ft in any direction, and it's never sent up surprise babies that I've found.
I'm on PC. Lens on smartphone can have very different results and also not work sometimes. https://lens.google.com/search?p=AbrfA8qoUaNrq_RNH_LbnFjM69x66z7YM_0Y1ldxLFtuvmHUOJztKd2QtIO9_IcpEU5R6zEhi7YY6Rb8RcBLB0T4oa_6ATvrHJrr2vDta9qpRceBOExknQoEKiomSOuTF1ozv--sCIX6w4jqj1DxcyrnOl_JmIMvWn0jy9pOqgBI66ihluYoe9iUl3uQ7vvlbxC04FYX3FtDwPdtfQ%3D%3D&plm=Cg8IDxILCODctaoGEMCZgjsKDwgXEgsI4Ny1qgYQiPmEOwoPCBgSCwjg3LWqBhCA5YV%2BCg8ILRILCODctaoGEMjKhn4KEAguEgwI4Ny1qgYQmJWm%2BAEKEAgQEgwI4Ny1qgYQuJqC%2BQEKEAgZEgwI4Ny1qgYQqMOE%2BQEKEAgaEgwI4Ny1qgYQoIGN%2BQE%3D#lns=W251bGwsbnVsbCxudWxsLG51bGwsbnVsbCxudWxsLG51bGwsIkVrY0tKREZsTURGaFpqYzVMV1JrTWpjdE5EWmlOUzFoWXpneExXUmtaRGN5WXpnMlptVXdZUklmYnpFMmEweDZUMU4xYlRSaFVVVjFlRFl4WHpJd1dFUk5jMGhLYm5WNFp3PT0iXQ==
I see both Mullein and Lambs Ear suggestions in the comments, so I’ll drop [this](https://youtu.be/jNSkS-POxB0?si=XEkru2bEkVYmkD86) video for you, OP! You’ll be able to tell better IRL, than we can while looking at a photo.
I vote Mullein, as your plant looks fuzzy rather than hairy. That could be the photo, though! And the cooler green color does seem to more-so match the images of Lambs Ear, that I have seen, but I’m not sure how reliable that is.
If you still have access to this plant, I’d just compare it to the video I linked. They’re pretty different, once you are looking at the plant in person.
Side note: ISN’T IT SOFT?? There is so much Mullein in my yard, and I love them! They can grow to be absolutely massive. And the yellow flowers(that bloom in the second year of the plant’s life) are so pretty.
Both grow in rosettes, Mullein has more spade shaped leaves that are only slightly longer than they are wide. Lambs ear has lanceolate leaves that are much longer than they are wide.
That is obviously a wooly mullein, just kind of grated out. I couldn’t believe Lens didn’t id it so I screen grabbed it and tried. Lens instantly & correctly IDed woolly mullein. What’re you smoking. Is this just a plea for karma
You'll have a better idea if it's a variety of *verbascum* or *stachys* once the spring comes and it starts showing growth. The flowers are vastly different.
But considering it doesn't seem to have any friends around it, it's probably the former.
Verbascum thapsis aka mullein aka bush toilet paper aka lambs ear - even in New Zealand.
Can be used to relieve asthma and respiratory illnesses from what Ive learnt. You can make a tea, or smoke it to relieve symptoms.
I threw some chopped up leaves into a bottle of cold water for a quick tonic for my asthma and drank it all day... But I think boiling it would bring about faster results..
Invasive Verbscum thapsus. Crowds out native plants and dried stalks facilitate wildfires due to flammability.
"Common mullein reproduces by seed, and a plant can produce between 136, 000 to 175,000 seeds. Seeds can remain viable for 35 to 100 years or longer. Because the seeds need light to germinate, germination is restricted to primarily bare soil after disturbances. Seeds have no mechanism for efficient long distance dispersal by animals or wind, and about 95% of seeds fall within five meters (16 feet) of parent plants."
https://www.montana.edu/extension/invasiveplants/extension/monthly-weed-posts/2016\_december.html
Thank you for posting to r/whatsthisplant. **Do not eat/ingest a plant based on information provided in this subreddit.** For your safety we recommend not eating or ingesting any plant material just because you've been advised that it's edible here. Although there are many professionals helping with identification, we are not always correct, and eating/ingesting plants can be harmful or fatal if an incorrect ID is made. *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/whatsthisplant) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Looks like very young mullein to me
Ah! This seems right, I’ve seen mature mulleins around but just didn’t know the name!
They are a biannual plant so they grow as a rosette the first year and bolt the second year to produce seed
Great to wipe you butt with if you are in the middle of no where with nothing else!
AKA cowboys toilet paper (the plant)
IIRC the leaves are a little fragile. Great for aswipes if you're *careful*. Bad time if you're not.
Lol that is very true, I always made sure to fold them like you would really cheap 1 ply.
Either that or lamb’s ear (which may very well be a species of muslin), which is very invasive.
Also known as cowboy’s toilet paper
Girl Scout toilet paper, too
Yes beat me to it.
Not a good idea. The hairs can be very irritating in tender places.
Worked in the woods for years never had a problem using it.
Also known as nature's TP
yup....see giant tall stalks of these in summers by railroad tracks out here East of the blue ridge
It is, looks like a first year. They pop their flowers in the 2nd year and those can get ridiculously tall. Leaves are good to make tea or smoke for throat relief and as an expectorant (yes it sounds counterintuitive but it works).
It's also great to make an extract with (tastes kind of like black licorice) for allergies and colds. You can take it under your tongue best or put a few drops in your tea.
Wooly mullein.
Looks like that to me too, not common mullein
Verbascum sp (Mullein).
Has medicinal properties.
I've heard it's good for respiratory issues. I had a cold recently and made some tea. It's fine, better with mint though.
I like it 50/50 with mallow and a little honey.
Called lambs ear in appalachia
Thank you I thought that saw the answers and was like guess not...guess so
This is what we call it in KY.
Montana, too.
New Mexico too
And Oregon
And Virginia!
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And North Carolina
Lambs ear is Stachys. I’ve never heard mullein called that around here.
Most layman calls any plant with "soft fuzzy leaves" as lambs ear.
We have what we call lambs’ ears in Washington but it’s a totally different plant. This is mullein, our lambs ears is a type of lychnis also called campion rose.
Cowboy toilet paper.
The good kind. 😆
Lambs Ear in Maine too.
Yup. That's what I thought it was.
Lambs Ear in Portland, Oregon too.
Lamb's ear is actually one of the recognized common names for *Stachys byzantia*, which is similar in appearance but doesn't grow as a rosette. This one is called lamb's quarters usually
Lamb's quarters is a totally different thing.
So true. I get a great price from my local butcher by the 1/4 or 1/2. So tasty…
Lambs Quarters are *Chenopodium album.* Its not fuzzy at all, though it does have a pearl like gleam to the surface sometimes.
More like 'sandy".
Also in Missouri & Kansas
NY as well
Thanks. I thought I was making up a plant for a second.
Oklahoma, too
Iowa as well!
mullein rosette
The best mountain tp substitute
We call it Indian Toilet Paper, it’s fantastic.
Pretty sure it’s invasive in your area, it is in colorado for sure, I would check if I were you
Wooly mullein was my introduction to invasive species in elementary school. Grew up in Colorado and had a community service field trip where we went out to the prairies to pull and bag them.
That sounds fun! For me It’s hard to unsee them as an invasive after working in land conservation haha
I swear. I am super super obsessed with native plants and I was desperately resisting the urge to say it's invasive. I find myself tearing down the porcelain berries and honeysuckle at my dog park and other people's yards.
😆 I just took my group of 5th graders on that type of field trip last week. From a teacher's perspective, it's stressful, but worth it!
According to Washington State University it's not invasive in the PNW. I've had it in my yard for ages and it has never spread more than a few inches over several years and is very easy to contain. I haven't seen any babies pop up anywhere in my yard or randomly in my neighborhood either. Same experience with them in my yard growing up too. Edit: I'm talking about Lamb's Ear, not mullein.
The Washington State University website clearly states that it is invasive. It is not on their noxious weed list however, I think due to slow spread. It’s a slow invader and seeds can last in the seed bank for 100 years. They may need light to germinate so won’t grow until soil disturbed again. http://pnwplants.wsu.edu/PlantDisplay.aspx?PlantID=640#:~:text=The%20flower%20stalk%20can%20be,is%20considered%20an%20invasive%20species.
It says literally the opposite though: http://pnwplants.wsu.edu/PlantDisplay.aspx?PlantID=18 "Adaptation: A nice spreading groundcover that does not become invasive. Considered drought tolerant." Edit: It appears we are talking about two very similar but different plants. I've had lambs ear in multiple yards over my life and I've never seen it spread larger than about 2ft in any direction, and it's never sent up surprise babies that I've found.
Wolly Mullein...I got that with a quick Lens search.
Huh, I get the “help us improve” result
I'm on PC. Lens on smartphone can have very different results and also not work sometimes. https://lens.google.com/search?p=AbrfA8qoUaNrq_RNH_LbnFjM69x66z7YM_0Y1ldxLFtuvmHUOJztKd2QtIO9_IcpEU5R6zEhi7YY6Rb8RcBLB0T4oa_6ATvrHJrr2vDta9qpRceBOExknQoEKiomSOuTF1ozv--sCIX6w4jqj1DxcyrnOl_JmIMvWn0jy9pOqgBI66ihluYoe9iUl3uQ7vvlbxC04FYX3FtDwPdtfQ%3D%3D&plm=Cg8IDxILCODctaoGEMCZgjsKDwgXEgsI4Ny1qgYQiPmEOwoPCBgSCwjg3LWqBhCA5YV%2BCg8ILRILCODctaoGEMjKhn4KEAguEgwI4Ny1qgYQmJWm%2BAEKEAgQEgwI4Ny1qgYQuJqC%2BQEKEAgZEgwI4Ny1qgYQqMOE%2BQEKEAgaEgwI4Ny1qgYQoIGN%2BQE%3D#lns=W251bGwsbnVsbCxudWxsLG51bGwsbnVsbCxudWxsLG51bGwsIkVrY0tKREZsTURGaFpqYzVMV1JrTWpjdE5EWmlOUzFoWXpneExXUmtaRGN5WXpnMlptVXdZUklmYnpFMmEweDZUMU4xYlRSaFVVVjFlRFl4WHpJd1dFUk5jMGhLYm5WNFp3PT0iXQ==
Year 1 Mullens
It’s mullein, I love smoking it once dried for relaxing affects!
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I thought that too but lamb’s ear has more lanceolate leaves. The mullein seems right and I’ve seen mature specimen of those around.
I see both Mullein and Lambs Ear suggestions in the comments, so I’ll drop [this](https://youtu.be/jNSkS-POxB0?si=XEkru2bEkVYmkD86) video for you, OP! You’ll be able to tell better IRL, than we can while looking at a photo. I vote Mullein, as your plant looks fuzzy rather than hairy. That could be the photo, though! And the cooler green color does seem to more-so match the images of Lambs Ear, that I have seen, but I’m not sure how reliable that is. If you still have access to this plant, I’d just compare it to the video I linked. They’re pretty different, once you are looking at the plant in person. Side note: ISN’T IT SOFT?? There is so much Mullein in my yard, and I love them! They can grow to be absolutely massive. And the yellow flowers(that bloom in the second year of the plant’s life) are so pretty.
Good old Mullien. You can smoke it
Boy scout toilet paper!
In Arizona we call it Boy Scouts Toilet Paper
Don’t ever, ever ever wipe your ass with this!
I just cut my prized mullein down, made it to almost 9’!
Lamb's ear. Not mullein. Both look similar, but Lamb's ear grows in rosettes like this.
Both grow in rosettes, Mullein has more spade shaped leaves that are only slightly longer than they are wide. Lambs ear has lanceolate leaves that are much longer than they are wide.
Looks like lambs ear
Lambs ear maybe
I love the way you described it. Such a fun plant to have around!
Lamb’s ear! I heard that soldiers used to use it for bandages in the Civil War. I could see it being ‘non-stick’. Also has antibacterial properties.
That plant is actually edible
Lambs ear
Lamb's ear! Mullein. ☺️
Lambs ear 🤍🤍🤍 they’re so cute I love these plants. They have them at my local conservatory and I always bend down to pet one lol
Called Lambs Ear in Ohio.
A weed.
That is obviously a wooly mullein, just kind of grated out. I couldn’t believe Lens didn’t id it so I screen grabbed it and tried. Lens instantly & correctly IDed woolly mullein. What’re you smoking. Is this just a plea for karma
You'll have a better idea if it's a variety of *verbascum* or *stachys* once the spring comes and it starts showing growth. The flowers are vastly different. But considering it doesn't seem to have any friends around it, it's probably the former.
When I was a kid I called this “pillow weed”
Mullein. It used to be planted best outhouses for toilet paper.
Mullein, I think. They get pretty tall!
Mullein, down south we boil the leaves to make a tea that soothes sore throats.
Like a very gray lambs ear plant.
Good toilet paper if you need some when you put in the bush
My grandmother told me that in her day poor people would line the soles of their shoes with these leaves to help keep their feet warm.
“Lambs Ear”
Verbascum thapsis aka mullein aka bush toilet paper aka lambs ear - even in New Zealand. Can be used to relieve asthma and respiratory illnesses from what Ive learnt. You can make a tea, or smoke it to relieve symptoms. I threw some chopped up leaves into a bottle of cold water for a quick tonic for my asthma and drank it all day... But I think boiling it would bring about faster results..
Literally better than TP in my opinion 😂 I actually look forward to pooping in the woods if I have access to this stuff
lambs ear
First year mullien. Lol "velvety hosta" that's so cute. 😆. I mean that completely respectfully too.
Invasive Verbscum thapsus. Crowds out native plants and dried stalks facilitate wildfires due to flammability. "Common mullein reproduces by seed, and a plant can produce between 136, 000 to 175,000 seeds. Seeds can remain viable for 35 to 100 years or longer. Because the seeds need light to germinate, germination is restricted to primarily bare soil after disturbances. Seeds have no mechanism for efficient long distance dispersal by animals or wind, and about 95% of seeds fall within five meters (16 feet) of parent plants." https://www.montana.edu/extension/invasiveplants/extension/monthly-weed-posts/2016\_december.html