Hound's-tongue

Cynoglossum officinale

In the Carolinas and Georgia, found in disturbed areas, roadsides, pastures, calcareous shale barrens. Weakley, Flora of the Southeastern United States (2025), Carolinas & Georgia edition What its natural habitat tells you

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Not native

Not native to Arkansas. How scores work Is it native here?

Profile 59%

Height: Flower stems, 12 to 48 inches tall, are produced the 2nd year, or sometimes later.
Light: Partial shade, Full sun
Soil moisture: Dry to wet

Cynoglossum officinale — flower photograph — Yellowstone National Park · Public domain · Original photograph

At a glance

Life cycle: Biennial or perennial
Bloom: May to July

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Not yet recorded · Spread · Leaves

Recorded in 10 Arkansas counties.

Natural habitats

Places it grows wild. Not a planting requirement. Each habitat page lists the plants and wildlife also found there.

1 of 2

Standing water on a limestone glade. Shown: Flat Rock Cedar Glades and Barrens State Natural Area, Rutherford County, Tennessee, a neighboring state.Standing water, Flat Rock Cedar Glades and Barrens SNA, Rutherford County, Alan M. Cressler / U.S. Geological Survey, undated. Public domain. Source record.

Roadsides, fields and disturbed ground

Ground opened by people: roadsides, old fields, pastures, fencerows and lots.

All habitats

Ecological relationships

Who uses this plant?

What these records mean

4CaterpillarsGenus host records with ranges including AR

Genus host records with ranges including AR · Cynoglossum

Ethmia trifurcellaBold-Streaked Ethmia
Haploa leconteiLeconte's Haploa
Strymon melinusGray Hairstreak
Vanessa carduiPainted Lady, Cosmopolite

Shropshire & Tallamy 2025, Lepidoptera of North America north of Mexico, ZooKeys 1261 (ODbL)

—BeesSoutheastern regional records

—Specialist beesPollen specialists

—BirdsRecorded genus food-resource interactions; not a state feeding claim

Growing and identification

Plant details

Family: Boraginaceae

Safety has not been reviewed for this plant; check toxicity and thorns before planting.

Growing sources and scope

Bloom · “May to July” · Weakley, Flora of the Southeastern United States (2025), Carolinas & Georgia edition · Carolinas and Georgia
Height · “Flower stems, 12 to 48 inches (30-120 cm) tall, are produced the 2nd year, or sometimes later.” · Fire Effects Information System: Cynoglossum officinale (ranked first; Minnesota Wildflowers differs) · Source botanical description; original units and scope retained
Life cycle · “Biennial or perennial” · Minnesota Wildflowers
Light · “Partial shade; Full sun (documented habitat)” · Weakley, Flora of the Southeastern United States (2025), Carolinas & Georgia edition · Carolinas and Georgia
Soil · “Dry; Moist; Wet (documented habitat)” · Weakley, Flora of the Southeastern United States (2025), Carolinas & Georgia edition · Carolinas and Georgia

Also known as

Comfrey; Gypsy Flower; Hound's tongue; Hounds Tongue

Conservation status

Arkansas rank	SNA
Global rank	GNR
AR status	Not verified
Federal status	Not verified

Conservation source Global and federal source

Native alternatives

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