I have a mystery plant down in the rock wall of the area that was formerly of the fruit trees. It is in the rock wall of the new driveway (the one that goes behind the shed into the back portion of the property), so I know I didn't plant it. It has shot up, over the course of this spring, to almost 6 feet tall. The leaves are a couple of feet long and broad. The yellow flowers on a spike that at this point is about 18" long. Since only a few of the individual buds to the spike aren't open, I am unable to determine if this thing plans on getting larger before really opening up.
Here are some photos, and maybe someone can help me identify it.
The bottom portion of the plant
A closer look at the leaves. They look fuzzy, but I haven't touched them and won't until I am reasonably confident of the identification (hey, I've been stung before!).
The open flowers. The individual flowers are small, perhaps 1/2" diameter (if that big), but the spike itself is large and loaded with buds.
Any ideas from fellow gardeners?
Duh, a very quick search on google, turned up a definite identity.
"Common Mullien (also spelled Mullein) Latin: Verbascum thapsus."
Another cool looking plant that is considered invasive, guess I'll have to get rid of it[sigh].
Posted by: bogie | July 19, 2009 at 07:03 AM
Here is the link to the government website on it.
Seems by the description, that I have a super plant (leaves of 4-12"? Mine are easily twice that long (except at the top).
Posted by: bogie | July 19, 2009 at 07:10 AM
This is new to me. Interesting. What continent is it native to?
Posted by: Cop Car | July 19, 2009 at 09:54 AM
Never mind, thanks. I see from the government website you linked that it is from Europe/Asia and that Europeans brought it over with them as a medicinal herb. Someone in your neck of the woods must be smoking it. I see that the map of its spread did not include your state!
Posted by: Cop Car | July 19, 2009 at 09:59 AM
I doubt anyone is smoking it. I have no doubt that both this, and the other noxious, invasive plant that I eradicated earlier this year was brought in thru the mulch that I laid down 2 years ago. Being biennieals, both those plants would have started out small last year (I remember seeing the rosettes to the mullien last year), and then this year would have been the year to bloom.
Such a suspicious mind you have Cop Car!
Posted by: bogie | July 21, 2009 at 04:03 AM