Hound's-tongue

Cynoglossum officinale

Found in disturbed areas, roadsides, pastures, calcareous shale barrens. Weakley, Flora of the Southeastern United States (2025), Northern Tier edition What its natural habitat tells you

-55

Severe harm

Not native to West Virginia. 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

Do not plant. Listed invasive in West Virginia.

At a glance

Life cycle: Biennial or perennial
Bloom: May to July

JFMAMJJASOND

Not yet recorded · Spread · Leaves

Recorded in 14 West Virginia counties.

Natural habitats

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

1 of 3

Roadsides, fields and disturbed ground

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

Shale barrens

Steep, sun-baked slopes of loose shale with sparse oaks and Virginia pine and their own endemic wildflowers. Linked only where the source names shale barrens; calcareous shale stays with the limestone glades.

Glades, barrens and outcrops on limestone

Open, thin-soil openings and rock on limestone, dolomite or other lime-rich rock, including cedar glades.

All habitats

Ecological relationships

Who uses this plant?

What these records mean

3CaterpillarsGenus host records with ranges including WV

Genus host records with ranges including WV · Cynoglossum

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

West Virginia rank	SNA
Global rank	GNR
WV status	Not verified
Federal status	Not verified

Conservation source Global and federal source

Native alternatives

Find natives for your garden