Hag Taper

Did you know

• Hag taper is an old folk name for mullein, referring to its use as a crude torch dipped in wax or tallow by witches and night travelers.
• The thick, woolly leaves were placed in shoes for warmth and were also used as crude bandages.
• In folklore, carrying a hag taper was believed to ward off evil spirits and hexes.
• The tall flower spike can serve as a natural sundial, as it tends to lean toward the south in the Northern Hemisphere.
• Fish poachers historically crushed mullein seeds and scattered them on water to stun fish, a practice now illegal.

Color meanings

Uses

• medicinal
• torches
• folk remedy
• ornamental