# hairy puccoon (*Lithospermum caroliniense*) The hairy puccoon is a bright yellow flower that grows in fields and along roadsides. Its fuzzy leaves and stems help it stand out in nature, making it a fun plant to discover! - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 12 - **Habitat:** Grasslands ![hairy puccoon](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Hairypuccoon.jpg&width=800) Photo: Crazytwoknobs, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Hairypuccoon.jpg) ## Appearance The hairy puccoon has strikingly bright, trumpet-shaped yellow flowers that form loose clusters atop its stems. Its leaves and stems are covered in stiff, bristly hairs, giving the plant a fuzzy, grayish-green appearance distinct from smooth-leaved prairie flowers. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Boraginales - **Family:** Boraginaceae - **Genus:** Lithospermum ## Interesting facts - Its scientific name "Lithospermum" means "stone seed" in Greek, for its incredibly hard seeds! - Sometimes, the flowers will shift their color slightly from bright yellow to a deeper orange as they age! - This plant helps keep sandy soils from blowing away by holding them together with its roots! - You can often spot its bright yellow blooms from a distance in sunny, open fields! ## Special abilities - **Fuzzy Shield:** Hairy puccoon has stiff, bristly hairs on its leaves that deter hungry insects, protecting its tender green parts from being munched. - **Deep Drinker:** This plant grows an incredibly long taproot, reaching deep into the soil to find water even when conditions on the surface are very dry. - **Seed Armor:** Hairy puccoon produces tiny, hard, stony seeds called nutlets that are protected, helping them survive and sprout after a long winter. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 30-60 cm - **Spread:** 15-30 cm - **Flower Size:** 1-2 cm - **Bloom Season:** Late spring to mid summer - **Edible:** No - **Toxicity:** None - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** Honey Bee (*Apis mellifera*) — gathers nectar and pollen from the vibrant blooms. - **Pollinates:** [Painted Lady](https://www.snappit.app/explore/painted-lady) (*Vanessa cardui*) — visits the flowers for a sweet energy boost. - **Symbiotic with:** Mycorrhizal Fungus (*Glomus intraradices*) — helps roots absorb nutrients and water from the soil. ## Traits - [Furry](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/furry): Furry describes animals possessing a dense covering of soft hair or fur. - [Ornamental](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/ornamental): Ornamental plants are cultivated primarily for their aesthetic appeal, enhancing landscapes and gardens with their attractive foliage, flowers, or form. - [Spring Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/spring-blooming): Spring blooming plants produce their flowers during the spring season, often signifying the end of winter and the start of new growth. - [Dye](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/dye): This human use trait indicates species from which natural dyes can be extracted and used to color textiles, food, or other materials. - [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. ## Collections - [Flowers](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/flowers) - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always look but don't pick flowers unless you have permission. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify hairy puccoon? Count the petals where you can, then compare the flower's center, its symmetry, how the blooms are grouped and the leaves below. Color varies between garden varieties and shifts with the light. Flower Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is hairy puccoon? 30-60 cm ### How wide does hairy puccoon spread? 15-30 cm ### How big are the flowers on hairy puccoon? 1-2 cm ### When does hairy puccoon bloom? Late spring to mid summer ### Is hairy puccoon edible? No ### Is hairy puccoon toxic? None ### What is hairy puccoon's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Five Channels Dam](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/five-channels-dam) — Michigan, US · Historic Site - [Glen Haven](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/glen-haven) — Michigan, US · Historic District - [University of Wisconsin–Madison Arboretum](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/university-of-wisconsin-madison-arboretum) — Wisconsin, US · Botanical Garden - [Century of Progress Architectural District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/century-of-progress-architectural-district) — Indiana, US · Historic District - [Cowles Bog](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/cowles-bog) — Indiana, US · Nature Reserve - [Trempealeau Mountain State Natural Area](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/trempealeau-mountain-state-natural-area) — Minnesota, US · State Park [View all places to see hairy puccoon](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/hairy-puccoon) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Hairy Puccoon: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/hairy-puccoon)