I was generously given a mullein and a cattail stalk today by my buddy Kevin to try for handdrill. The cattail was to damp so I put that up to dry and used the mullein.
I got good coals on a damp day with both white cedar and basswood as a hearthboard. It took a lot of speed on the cedar and both speed and pressure on the basswood. The mullein made a lot of smoke before I got a coal and was a lot of work. Not as easy as goldenrod if you ask me.
Also gave red cedar bowdrill another try and failed. Any moisture in the air and it becomes exponentally more difficult.