Hound's-tongue
Cynoglossum officinale
Also listed as Cynoglossum album, Cynoglossum angustifolium
Also known as Common Hound's Tongue, Gypsy-flower
Climate Match for your location
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A biennial or short-lived perennial with hairy foliage and small pink, purple, or white flowers arranged in coiled clusters. Often considered a weedy invasive in many regions, it tolerates poor conditions and is attractive to pollinators.
Why grow it
Hound's-tongue offers reliable establishment in poor soils and disturbed sites where many ornamental biennials struggle, making it useful for quick cover on marginal land. Its consistent attractiveness to pollinators and modest water needs compare favorably to fussier biennial wildflowers, though it lacks the ornamental refinement of selected cultivars. It is best considered a functional pioneer plant rather than a specimen choice.
Watch out for
Hound's-tongue produces numerous seeds that persist in soil for several years, making established populations difficult to control. The hairy foliage and seeds readily attach to clothing, animal fur, and equipment, facilitating unintended spread. Hand-pulling is most effective on young plants before flowering, though gloves are recommended as the foliage can irritate sensitive skin.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Boraginaceae
Native Range
Mediterranean, Europe
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Season of Interest
Herb
Soft non-woody plants of the field layer.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Propagation
A biennial or short-lived perennial with hairy foliage and small pink, purple, or white flowers arranged in coiled clusters. Often considered a weedy invasive in many regions, it tolerates poor conditions and is attractive to pollinators.
Climate Match for your location
See how well Hound's-tongue grows in your area.
Enter your ZIP code and we'll show you how this plant fits your local climate.
Why grow it
Hound's-tongue offers reliable establishment in poor soils and disturbed sites where many ornamental biennials struggle, making it useful for quick cover on marginal land. Its consistent attractiveness to pollinators and modest water needs compare favorably to fussier biennial wildflowers, though it lacks the ornamental refinement of selected cultivars. It is best considered a functional pioneer plant rather than a specimen choice.
Watch out for
Hound's-tongue produces numerous seeds that persist in soil for several years, making established populations difficult to control. The hairy foliage and seeds readily attach to clothing, animal fur, and equipment, facilitating unintended spread. Hand-pulling is most effective on young plants before flowering, though gloves are recommended as the foliage can irritate sensitive skin.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Boraginaceae
Native Range
Mediterranean, Europe
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Season of Interest
Herb
Soft non-woody plants of the field layer.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Propagation
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