• What is this fuzzy plant?

    Question

    When walking the Maple Highlands Trail Wednesday, there’s a lot of these fuzzy leafed plants growing among the fence. My friends and I are wondering what they are. Photo taken between Taylor Wells & Claridon Troy roads.

    Naturalist's Response

    This is common mullein, found along roadsides and disturbed places. Click here for an the Ohio State University listing of this plant.

    Some consider it a weed, but it is very pretty with its fuzzy leaves and yellow flowers on tall spikes.

    It’s a biennial, so it will not flower the first year that the plant seed germinates. In your photo I see what looks like remnants of old leaves, so this plant might bloom this year.

    -Naturalist Denise Wolfe