By Shelly Patterson
When I first arrived on Anarchist Mountain in 2017 and walked the property we now call home, Mullein didn’t interest me in the slightest. To me, it was simply a weed.* It grew everywhere—fields of tall, sturdy stalks topped with tiny yellow flowers, often difficult to pull and always in the way of where I wanted to plant vegetables or flowers. If it grew that easily, surely it couldn’t be worth much…or so I thought.
Over the years, while researching many of our local wildflowers and native plants, I kept seeing Mullein mentioned. When I shared photos of our fields with others, people actually told me how fortunate I was to have so much of it. That surprised me enough to start digging a little deeper.
What I discovered completely changed the way I look at this remarkable plant.
For centuries, Mullein has been valued in traditional herbal medicine. The soft, velvety leaves and bright yellow flowers have commonly been brewed into teas to help soothe coughs, sore throats and irritated airways. Herbalists have long used it to support respiratory health, and the flowers have also been infused into oils for minor ear discomfort and skin care. While modern research is still catching up with many of these traditional uses, mullein continues to be appreciated by herbalists around the world.
The leaves are generally harvested in early spring or again in late fall before the plant sends up its tall flowering stalk, as this is when they are considered most potent. The flowers can be picked throughout the summer and dried for tea as well. One important tip is to strain the tea carefully, as the tiny hairs on the leaves can be irritating if they are left in the drink. I simply crumble a few dried leaves into a fine strainer or tea ball and pour hot water over them. It has become one of my favourite herbal teas.
These days, I no longer see Mullein as a nuisance. We harvest it each year, appreciate its many benefits, and leave plenty standing to complete its life cycle. It’s funny how something I once dismissed as a troublesome weed has become one of the plants I value most.
Living on Anarchist Mountain has taught me that not everything worth appreciating is showy or rare. Sometimes the plants we overlook, pull out, or simply walk past have the most interesting stories to tell. Mullein has certainly taught me that, and I suspect there are many more lessons waiting in the fields around us.
* According to the Province of BC scale, the Mullein is considered a ‘Low Risk Priority Level’ invasive plant.
