Pacific Houndstongue

Pacific hound’s tongue is a perennial herb native to western North America, typically found in moist, shaded forests and along streambanks. It features broad, velvety basal leaves and tall flowering stems that produce clusters of rich blue to purple, tubular flowers in spring. The plant’s nutlets are covered in tiny barbs that cling to fur or clothing, allowing for effective seed dispersal. Pacific hound’s tongue is an early bloomer that provides an important nectar source for native bees and butterflies in forest understories. It inhabits oak woodlands and works well in a woodland garden where it goes dormant during the dry season.