Foxglove
Toxic · do not eatFoxglove rosettes are less woolly and toothed; highly toxic.
Study first
Common mullein.
Verbascum thapsus
Also found as Great mullein · Flannel plant
A tall biennial with a rosette of thick, velvety gray leaves and a spike of yellow flowers.
Sources checked 27 September 2026 · Specialist field review pending
Before any gathering or use
Leaf hairs irritate the throat unless filtered. Seeds are toxic and have been used as a fish poison.
Where it grows
Tracked records and known growing zone
- Verified records
- 121,160
- People who recorded it
- 56,494
- Most records (northern hemisphere)
- Apr–Aug
- Records span
- 1975–2026
| January | 2361 |
|---|---|
| February | 2408 |
| March | 6047 |
| April | 15221 |
| May | 12111 |
| June | 17112 |
| July | 23180 |
| August | 13803 |
| September | 10656 |
| October | 7635 |
| November | 4249 |
| December | 2695 |
Research-grade iNaturalist records, snapshot Aug 27, 2026. The growing zone combines areas where different people have repeatedly verified it. Records show where people looked and found it, not current abundance or permission to gather.
01 / Learn to see
Field marks
- 01
First-year rosette of large, soft, woolly gray-green leaves.
- 02
Second-year stalk up to two meters with leaves running down the stem.
- 03
Dense spike of yellow five-petaled flowers opening a few at a time.
These are study prompts, not a complete identification key. Confirm the full plant with a regional flora and an experienced local identifier.
02 / Resolve the differences
Look closely. Compare.
Lamb's ear
Stachys byzantina is a garden plant with square stems and purple flowers.
Use the botanical sourceSelected comparisons only. Other lookalikes may occur locally.
03 / Meet the place
Habitat & season
Range context
Native to Eurasia; widely naturalized in disturbed ground.
Watch the plant stage
Rosettes in the first year; flowering in the second summer.
Stage guidance is not a local forecast. Check your climate, elevation and a regional source; no month-shift formula is used here.
04 / Gather with care
Documented use & care
Parts discussed: Leaf · Flower
Leaves and flowers are used for tea; strain through fine cloth to remove hairs.
Care for the patch
Leave flowering spikes for pollinators and seed-eating birds.
Preparation & storage essentials05 / Follow the evidence
Sources & review
- Wikipedia · Verbascum thapsusBotanical description, range and documented use
- iNaturalist · Verbascum thapsusTaxonomy and verified observation records
Checked 27 September 2026. Original editorial synthesis; source institutions have not reviewed or endorsed this guide. Independent botanical field review is pending. Photos illustrate specimens; they do not certify the identity of a plant you find.
Suggest a correction