A weed to some, Mullein (Verbascum thapsus) is also a gorgeous wildflower. It's a stately presence in the wild, towering to 6 feet or more with velvety leaves and long, bright-yellow flower spikes. Over 40 common names include Velvet Dock, Candlewick, Torchwort, and Big Taper. The latter refers to the practice of dipping stalks in tallow and using them as funeral torches, common in ancient Greece.