Plant Profile

Dense-flowered Mullein

Compiled by the Omnia Sana editorial team from the plant database ·Last updated August 15, 2026

Verbascum densiflorum

Family: Scrophulariaceae · Parts used: Flower (Verbasci flos) · Also known as: Mullein, Great mullein, Denseflower mullein

Common names in 22 European languages →

The complete database record: 3 documented constituents, 2 pharmacological actions, 8 traditional / indicated uses, with 18 cited sources.

Botanical Description

Tall, stately biennial herb, very similar to great mullein, forming a low first-year rosette of large, thick, woolly grey-green leaves; the second-year flowering spike bears densely packed, large bright yellow flowers, generally more densely and showily flowered than V. thapsus.^[11]

Height: 1-2 m (flowering stem, second year)

Habit: Tall, biennial herb; woolly basal rosette in year one, dense tall flowering spike in year two

Leaves: Large, thick, woolly grey-green, entire to faintly scalloped margin

Flowers: Densely packed, large, bright yellow, five-petalled, along a tall unbranched spike

Stem: Single, tall, unbranched, woolly flowering stem (second year only)

Root: Stout taproot

Fruit: Small capsule with numerous tiny seeds

Flowering Period: June-September (second year)

Habitat & Distribution

Grows on dry, sunny waste ground, roadsides and disturbed soil; native to Europe and western Asia.^[11]

Harvesting

The flowers (Verbasci flos) are picked individually as they open through summer, since they open only a few at a time and fade quickly, then dried promptly to preserve colour and mucilage content.^[11]

Parts: Flower (Verbasci flos)

Season: Summer, as flowers open

Key Constituents

Mucilage polysaccharides (~3%)^{[11, 12]}

The demulcent constituents that soothe mucous membranes.

PolysaccharidesMucilage

Saponins^{[5, 11, 12]}

Thought to be responsible for the mild expectorant action.

Saponins

Flavonoids, iridoid and phenylethanoid glycosides (verbascoside)^{[1, 2, 4, 8, 11]}

Anti-inflammatory and antioxidant constituents.

Verbascoside (acteoside)FlavonoidsGlycosidesIridoid glycosides

Pharmacological Actions

Demulcent (soothing mucilage)^{[9, 10, 11, 12]}

Demulcent and mild expectorant for cough and cold with sore throat and dry, irritating cough; Soothes catarrh of the upper respiratory tract / bronchitis (mucilage coats irritated mucosa; saponins loosen mucus)

Expectorant^{[9, 11, 12]}

Demulcent and mild expectorant for cough and cold with sore throat and dry, irritating cough

Traditional & Indicated Uses

Bronchitis^{[11, 12]}Preliminary · 1/10

Soothes catarrh of the upper respiratory tract / bronchitis (mucilage coats irritated mucosa; saponins loosen mucus)

Evidence: 1

Label: Bronchitis

more plants for bronchitis →detailed sources →

Cold & flu^{[11, 12]}Preliminary · 1/10

Demulcent and mild expectorant for cough and cold with sore throat and dry, irritating cough

Evidence: 1

Label: Cold & flu

more plants for cold & flu →detailed sources →

Cough^{[11, 12]}Preliminary · 1/10

Evidence: 1

Label: Cough

more plants for cough →detailed sources →

Earache^{[12, 14, 15]}Moderate · 6/10

Traditional infused-oil ('mullein oil') for earache - two RCTs of a naturopathic herbal ear drop containing Verbascum found it as effective as anaesthetic drops for ear pain in acute otitis media (combination products, not mullein alone)

Evidence: 6

Label: Earache

more plants for earache →detailed sources →

Pain (general)^{[12, 14, 15]}Moderate · 6/10

Evidence: 6

Label: Pain (general)

more plants for pain (general) →detailed sources →

Respiratory support^{[11, 12]}Preliminary · 1/10

inferred from expectorant action

Evidence: 1

Label: Respiratory support

more plants for respiratory support →detailed sources →

Skin irritation^{[3, 11, 12]}Preliminary · 2/10

inferred from demulcent action

Evidence: 2

Label: Skin irritation

more plants for skin irritation →detailed sources →

Sore throat^{[11, 12]}Preliminary · 1/10

Demulcent and mild expectorant for cough and cold with sore throat and dry, irritating cough

Evidence: 1

Label: Sore throat

more plants for sore throat →detailed sources →

Traditional Use & History

Together with great mullein and V. phlomoides, dense-flowered mullein flower is officially recognised in the EU herbal monograph and ESCOP monograph as a traditional demulcent and mild expectorant for cough and cold with sore throat, used to soothe irritated mucous membranes of the upper respiratory tract.^{[11, 12]}

Preparations

Infusion (flower)^{[11, 12]}

Dried flower infused in hot water, carefully strained to remove fine hairs, as the standard traditional preparation for cough and sore throat.

Infused oil (flower, earache)^[12]

Flowers infused in oil, traditionally used (often combined with other herbs) as ear drops for earache.

Dosage

Infusion^[11]

The EU herbal monograph suggests around 1.5-2 g of dried flower per cup, up to three times daily, in adults and adolescents over 12 years. Educational reference only, not a prescription.

Safety, Cautions & Contraindications

Safety note^[11]Info

Per the EU herbal monograph, for use in adults and adolescents over 12 years. Cough that persists beyond about a week, or is accompanied by fever, shortness of breath or purulent sputum, needs medical assessment.

Safety note^[11]Caution

Use in pregnancy and breastfeeding is not recommended. Strain liquid preparations to remove the fine flower/leaf hairs, which can irritate the throat.

Dangerous Lookalikes

Digitalis Purpurea^{[16, 17, 18]}Fatal

Confused Part: First-year basal leaf rosette (the foraged leaf, used for tea), before either plant sends up a flower spike.

Confusion Context: Dense-flowered mullein is foraged for the same soft woolly rosette leaves as great mullein and shares the identical dangerous look-alike: foxglove, whose poisonous first-year rosette resembles foraged soft-leaf rosettes and has caused cardiac-glycoside poisonings when eaten as comfrey or borage. The two co-occur in the same disturbed, sunny habitats. Foxglove contains cardiac glycosides and can be fatal.

Distinguishing Features: Mullein leaves are densely, evenly woolly on BOTH surfaces - a thick silvery-grey felt that gives a soft blanket-like nap and largely hides the veins. Foxglove's upper surface is green and only thinly downy, never a thick silvery felt, and shows a sunken net of veins., Foxglove leaves have a distinctly toothed or scalloped margin; mullein margins are entire to only faintly scalloped. Use this only alongside the wool test, not on its own.

Key Test: Look at the UPPER surface: a thick, even, silvery wool that hides the veins = mullein. A green, matte, net-veined upper surface (only thinly hairy) with a toothed edge = foxglove - do not use it.

Reviewed By: Omnia Sana (owner-authorized)

Reviewed Date: 2026-07-06

Harvest Readiness

^[13]

Part: flower

Signals: Pick the flowers when in flower (in summer), gathering the newly-opened blooms up the spike, and dry them quickly to keep the colour and potency.

Basis: traditional

Source Quote: The plant is harvested when in flower and should be dried quickly and with care or it will lose its medicinal qualities.

Species Confirmed: 1

Notes: PFAF (REF-3364, as Verbascum densiflorum/thapsiforme); the flowers are gathered when in flower (July-August) and dried quickly. Single lineage -> provisional. SAFETY: the first-year mullein rosette resembles the FATAL foxglove (Digitalis purpurea) rosette - confirm identity before gathering; see Dangerous Lookalikes.

External Identifiers

GBIF ›Wikidata ›

References & Sources

Grigore, A., Colceru-Mihul, S., Litescu, S., Panteli, M. and Rasit, I (2013) 'Correlation between polyphenol content and anti-inflammatory activity of Verbascum phlomoides (mullein)', Pharmaceutical Biology, 51(7), pp. 925-929. doi:10.3109/13880209.2013.767361 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.3109/13880209.2013.767361
Klimek, B., Olszewska, M.A. and Tokar, M (2010) 'Simultaneous determination of flavonoids and phenylethanoids in the flowers of Verbascum densiflorum and V. phlomoides by high-performance liquid chromatography', Phytochemical Analysis, 21(2), pp. 150-156. doi:10.1002/pca.1171 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1002/pca.1171
Suntar, I., Tatli, I.I., Kupeli Akkol, E., Keles, H. and others (2010) 'An ethnopharmacological study on Verbascum species: from conventional wound healing use to scientific verification', Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 132(2), pp. 408-413. doi:10.1016/j.jep.2010.08.004 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2010.08.004
Georgiev, M.I., Ali, K., Alipieva, K., Verpoorte, R. and Choi, Y.H (2011) 'Metabolic differentiations and classification of Verbascum species by NMR-based metabolomics', Phytochemistry, 72(16), pp. 2045-2051. doi:10.1016/j.phytochem.2011.07.005 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.phytochem.2011.07.005
Torok, T. and Varga, E (2015) 'Pharmacognosy study of Verbascum species', Acta Pharmaceutica Hungarica, 85(3), pp. 89-95. Preclinical
https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=Pharmacognosy%20study%20of%20Verbascum%20species
Castro, A.I., Carmona, J.B., Gonzales, F.G. and Nestar, O.B (2006) 'Occupational airborne dermatitis from gordolobo (Verbascum densiflorum)', Contact Dermatitis, 55(5), pp. 301. doi:10.1111/j.1600-0536.2006.00923.x Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1600-0536.2006.00923.x
Rodriguez-Fragoso, L., Reyes-Esparza, J., Burchiel, S.W., Herrera-Ruiz, D. and Torres, E (2007) 'Risks and benefits of commonly used herbal medicines in Mexico', 227(1), pp. 125--135. doi:10.1016/j.taap.2007.10.005 Meta-analysis / review
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.taap.2007.10.005
Symoniuk, E., Marczak, Z., Brzezinska, R. and Janowicz, M (2023) 'Effect of the Freeze-Dried Mullein Flower Extract (Verbascum sp.) Addition on Oxidative Stability and Antioxidant Activity of Selected Cold-Pressed Oils', Foods, 12(12), pp. 2391. doi:10.3390/foods12122391 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.3390/foods12122391
Turker, A.U. and Gurel, E (2005) 'Common mullein (Verbascum thapsus L.): recent advances in research', Phytotherapy Research, 19(9), pp. 733-739. doi:10.1002/ptr.1653 Meta-analysis / review
https://doi.org/10.1002/ptr.1653
Blanco-Salas, J., Hortigon-Vinagre, M.P., Morales-Jadan, D. and Ruiz-Tellez, T (2021) 'Searching for Scientific Explanations for the Uses of Spanish Folk Medicine: A Review on the Case of Mullein (Verbascum, Scrophulariaceae)', Biology, 10(7), pp. 618. doi:10.3390/biology10070618 Meta-analysis / review
https://doi.org/10.3390/biology10070618
European Medicines Agency (HMPC) (n.d.) 'European Union herbal monograph on Verbascum thapsus L., V. densiflorum Bertol. and V. phlomoides L., flos (Verbasci flos)'. Available at: https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/medicines/herbal/verbasci-flos Traditional / reference
https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/medicines/herbal/verbasci-flos
ESCOP (European Scientific Cooperative on Phytotherapy) (n.d.) 'Verbasci flos (Mullein Flower) monograph', pp. com. Available at: https://www.escop.com/downloads/mullein-flower/ Traditional / reference
https://www.escop.com/downloads/mullein-flower/
Plants For A Future 'Verbascum densiflorum (Denseflower Mullein)'. Available at: https://pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Verbascum+densiflorum Traditional / reference
https://pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Verbascum+densiflorum
Sarrell, E.M., Mandelberg, A. and Cohen, H.A (2001) 'Efficacy of naturopathic extracts in the management of ear pain associated with acute otitis media', Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, 155(7), pp. 796--799. doi:10.1001/archpedi.155.7.796 Clinical study
https://doi.org/10.1001/archpedi.155.7.796
Sarrell, E.M., Cohen, H.A. and Kahan, E (2003) 'Naturopathic treatment for ear pain in children', Pediatrics, pp. e574--e579. doi:10.1542/peds.111.5.e574 Randomized trial
https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.111.5.e574
Lin, C.C. and Yang, C.C. and Phua, D.H. and Deng, J.F. and Lu, L.H (2010) 'An outbreak of foxglove leaf poisoning', Journal of the Chinese Medical Association, 73(2), pp. 97-100. doi:10.1016/S1726-4901(10)70009-5 Clinical study
https://doi.org/10.1016/S1726-4901(10)70009-5
Janssen, R.M. and Berg, M. and Ovakim, D.H (2016) 'Two cases of cardiac glycoside poisoning from accidental foxglove ingestion', CMAJ, 188(10), pp. 747-750. doi:10.1503/cmaj.150676 Clinical study
https://doi.org/10.1503/cmaj.150676
NC State Extension (2024) 'Verbascum thapsus (Common Mullein)'. Available at: https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/verbascum-thapsus/ Traditional / reference
https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/verbascum-thapsus/

Selected studies & references

ReviewSearching for Scientific Explanations for the Uses of Spanish Folk Medicine: A Review on the Case of Mullein (Verbascum, Scrophulariaceae) source↗ (2021)

ReviewRisks and benefits of commonly used herbal medicines in Mexico source↗ (2007)

ReviewCommon mullein (Verbascum thapsus L.): recent advances in research source↗ (2005)

RctNaturopathic treatment for ear pain in children source↗ (2003)

ClinicalEfficacy of naturopathic extracts in the management of ear pain associated with acute otitis media source↗ (2001)

PreclinicalEffect of the Freeze-Dried Mullein Flower Extract (Verbascum sp.) Addition on Oxidative Stability and Antioxidant Activity of Selected Cold-Pressed Oils source↗ (2023)

PreclinicalPharmacognosy study of Verbascum species source↗ (2015)

PreclinicalCorrelation between polyphenol content and anti-inflammatory activity of Verbascum phlomoides (mullein) source↗ (2013)

All 14 studies in the Knowledge Finder →

Educational use only. This profile summarises traditional and scientific sources for reference. It is not medical advice and not a substitute for a qualified practitioner. Some plants carry safety cautions and drug interactions - always check before use.
This profile is assembled automatically from the Omnia Sana plant database, which we curate by hand. How this site is built.

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