Description

Houndstongue (Borage Family), a native of Europe, was introduced to North America as a seed impurity. Houndstongue is a biennial or short-lived perennial forb. It forms a rosette in its first year of growth and produces a stem, flowers, and seeds in May and June during its second year and then dies. The rosette is composed of large leaves that are rough to the touch, resembling a hound’s tongue. Flowers are reddish-purple and produced on a stout, heavy stem that can reach 4 feet tall. The seeds are distinctive, prickly, adhesive nutlets. Houndstongue has a thick, black, woody taproot that can reach 3 feet deep.

Habitat and impacts
Houndstongue grows on rangeland, pastures, abandoned cropland, roadsides, open woodlands, and waste areas. It is common on gravelly, alkaline soils. Houndstongue is a poor competitor with native plants and usually needs disturbed or bare areas to establish. Houndstongue contains alkaloids that are toxic to grazing animals, especially cattle and horses. Standing plants are not palatable, but become more palatable when dried or after herbicide treatment. Livestock are most likely to consume houndstongue in contaminated hay.

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Photo by Steve Dewey