Great Mullein (Verbascum thapsus) is in the figwort family family (Scrophulariaceae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 3,598 research-grade flowering observations of it in our sample, peaking in July.
Nationally it blooms mainly from June to August, but timing varies a lot by state and elevation — see the table below.
When to photograph Great Mullein: observations by month (U.S.)
About Great Mullein
Verbascum thapsus (great mullein or common mullein) is a species of mullein native to Europe, northern Africa, and Asia, and introduced in the Americas and Australia.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Great Mullein by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minnesota | 267 | July | Jun–Aug |
| Colorado | 244 | July | Jul–Oct |
| California | 241 | July | Jul–Oct |
| New York | 241 | July | Jun–Jul |
| Vermont | 179 | July | Jul–Aug |
| Wisconsin | 172 | July | Jul–Aug |
| Virginia | 168 | July | Jun–Aug |
| Pennsylvania | 148 | July | Jun–Aug |
| Massachusetts | 141 | July | Jun–Jul |
| Utah | 134 | August | Jul–Oct |
| Washington | 124 | July | Jun–Sep |
| Kentucky | 107 | June | Jun–Jul |
| North Carolina | 105 | July | Jun–Aug |
| Oregon | 103 | July | Jun–Sep |
| Ohio | 101 | July | Jun–Jul |
| Michigan | 98 | July | Jul–Jul |
| Illinois | 88 | June | Jun–Jul |
| Nevada | 83 | July | Jun–Aug |
| New Jersey | 78 | July | Jun–Jul |
| Maryland | 70 | June | Jun–Jul |
| Arizona | 69 | August | Jul–Oct |
| New Mexico | 50 | July | Jul–Sep |
| Texas | 49 | June | Jun–Jul |
| Idaho | 47 | July | Jul–Oct |
| Indiana | 45 | July | Jun–Aug |
| West Virginia | 36 | June | Jun–Aug |
| Missouri | 32 | June | Jun–Jul |
| New Hampshire | 32 | July | Jun–Jul |
| Maine | 31 | July | Jun–Jul |
| Iowa | 30 | July | Jun–Jul |
| Connecticut | 29 | July | Jun–Aug |
| Montana | 29 | July | Jul–Oct |
| South Dakota | 26 | August | Jul–Sep |
| Tennessee | 24 | June | Jun–Aug |
| Wyoming | 24 | July | Jul–Sep |
| Arkansas | 21 | June | Jun–Jul |
| Alabama | 19 | July | Jun–Jul |
| Georgia | 19 | July | Jun–Aug |
| Mississippi | 16 | July | Jun–Jul |
| Nebraska | 16 | June | Jun–Jul |
| South Carolina | 15 | July | Jul–Aug |
| Kansas | 12 | June | Jun–Aug |
| Oklahoma | 10 | July | Jun–Aug |
| Hawaii | 9 | September | Jul–Oct |
| Delaware | 5 | June | Jun–Jun |
| Rhode Island | 5 | July | Jul–Aug |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related wildflowers (figwort family)
Photography tips
- Photograph flowers on calm, overcast mornings to avoid wind blur and harsh shadows.
- Get low: a shallow depth of field (f/2.8–f/5.6) isolates a bloom against soft color.
- Stay on trails — trampling meadows kills plants and ruins next year's display.
- Try a kaleidoscope abstract of a single bloom with our online kaleidoscope tool.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Great Mullein?
Nationally, July has the most observations, with the main season from June to August.
Where is Great Mullein most often seen?
The most observations come from Minnesota, Colorado, California.