How to grow Aaron's Rod

Plants grow in almost any good, well-drained soil in full sun. Without full sun, the stems will lean to the light and then flop over. In rich soil, plants will be very tall and need staking. New plants take a few years to form sizable clumps. If given adequate moisture just before flowering begins, plants are very drought-resistant. ¹

It is easy to care for Thermopsis species such as Aaron’s rod and False lupine. Taller varieties should be staked in windy areas; remove the flowering stalks once they have finished flowering to allow for a second bloom; cut back to the ground in the autumn.

If you require more plants it is probably best to grow from seeds as the plants have a delicate taproot; however if you require Aaron’s rod can be propagate by division in the spring. ⁴

The seeds should first be chipped and need to be imbibed by soaking in warm water for a day. It should take from two weeks to a month for Aaron’s rod to germinate. Once established sow the young plants outdoors following the last frost of spring at about 50 to 60cm apart. ⁴

Try to aim for a seed spacing of at least 1.62 feet (50.0 cm) and sow at a depth of around 0.39 inches (1.0 cm). For optimal germination, soil temperature should be a minimum of 15°C / 59°F.

By our calculations*, you should look at sowing Aaron's rod about 42 days before your last frost date .

Propagating Carolina lupine, Aaron’s rod: By division in early spring or by seed. ¹

Aaron's rod is hardy, so ensure you wait until all danger of frost has passed in your area before considering planting outside.

Harvest the buds and flowers when in bloom use them fresh or dried. Bundle and hang the leaves upside down to dry. Roots can be gathered before the stalk grows, sliced and dried. To dry the flowers, place them face down on paper or racks away from light to preserve colour (and medicinal properties). ⁵

These estimates for how long Aaron's rod takes to sprout, grow and harvest are from real observations from real gardeners, right around the world.

Our when to plant Aaron's rod estimates are relative to your last frost date.

Aaron’s rod refers to any of the staves carried by Moses’ brother, Aaron, in the Old Testament of the Bible. The Bible tells how, along with Moses’ rod, Aaron’s rod was endowed with miraculous power during the Plagues of Egypt which preceded the Exodus. There are two occasions where the Bible tells of the rod’s power even when it was not being held by its owner. ³

Ancient Greeks and Romans dipped the stalks in tallow for funeral torches. ²

The flowers make a bright yellow dye, which can be used to dye hair or cloth. The addition of dilute sulphuric acid will produce a colour-fast green. If you then add an alkali, to raise the Ph, the dye becomes brown. A yellow dye made from the flowers was used by Roman women to colour hair.

The leaves are a rubefacient, which means that if you rub them against your skin it will become red and irritated, which is something to remember when you’re in the woods looking for toilet paper substitutes. It also means that when you’ve been handling it, your hands get a warm, fuzzy feeling. Quaker women, forbidden to use makeup, rubbed the leaves on their cheeks to give the appearance of wearing rouge, which is how mullein acquired the name ‘Quaker rouge’
Leaves of common mullein were placed inside shoes for warmth giving rise to common names such as beggar’s blanket or beggar’s flannel. Other names refer to the softness of the leaves, and their similarity to textiles -Duffle, Blanket leaf, Feltwort, Adam’s flannel, Flannel and Our Lady’s flannel. Wolleyn, wullen or woollen.

Mullein stems were dipped in tallow to make torches, the custom dates back at least to Roman times. It is reported that these torches either used by witches or used to repel them, hence the name “hag taper.” Common Mullein was linked to witches, although the relationship remains ambiguous, the plant was widely held as being able to ward off curses and evil spirits. Verbascum was grown in monastery gardens to keep out the devil.
Lyte says: “The whole toppe, with his pleasant, yellow floures, sheweth like to a wax-candle, a taper, cunningly wrought”; and Coles says: “The elder age used the stalks dipped in suet to burn, whether at funerals or for private uses”. In N. Somerset they called it Lucernaria, or wick plant, ‘useful for wicks of lamps’.

The leaves, dried and rolled, were used as lamp wicks. It’s also helpful both as tinder for starting your campfire and as a quick burning fuel. If you’re still not warm enough, the leaves also make pretty good insulation when placed inside shoes or clothing.
From these uses, mullein is also called torches, candlewick plant, and beggar’s blanket.

Aristotle noted that fish were easier to catch after eating common mullein seeds. The seeds contain saponins. Historically, fishing techniques of indigenous people around the world have frequently included the use of plant-based piscicides. In the TV series, Bushcraft, Ray Mears joins a tribe on the Amazon who fish by putting Verbascum leaves in the river to make the fish sleepy. Verbascum species are called ‘fish plant’ in the northern Anatolia.
The leaves also contain rotenone which has insecticide properties. ⁵

False lupine, Carolina lupine, Bush Pea

Thermopsis villosa (Walter) Fernald & B.G. Schub.

¹ “How Stuff Works Carolina Lupine” http://home.howstuffworks.com/carolina-lupine-aarons-rod.htm

² “Aaron’s Rod” http://www.thefreedictionary.com/Aaron’s+rod

³ “Aaron’s Rod” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aaron%27s_rod

⁴ “Guide to growing Aaron’s Rod – Thermopsis” http://www.plant-biology.com/Thermopsis-Aarons-rod.php

⁵ “Verbascum thapsus ‘Common Mullein’” http://www.seedaholic.com/verbascum-thapsus-common-mullein-aaron-s-rod.html