# narrowleaf puccoon (*Lithospermum incisum*) Narrowleaf puccoon is a pretty wildflower with long, narrow leaves and bright yellow flowers. It grows in sunny places and is loved by bees and butterflies! - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 9 - **Habitat:** Grasslands ![narrowleaf puccoon](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Lithospermum_incisum1.jpg&width=800) Photo: JerryFriedman, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Lithospermum_incisum1.jpg) ## Appearance The narrowleaf puccoon has vibrant, trumpet-shaped yellow flowers that stand out against its slender, hairy stems. Its leaves are long and very narrow, giving it a delicate, grass-like appearance. The bright blossoms are easily spotted in dry, sunny areas. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Boraginales - **Family:** Boraginaceae - **Genus:** Lithospermum ## Interesting facts - Its extra-long taproot can grow over a meter deep to find water! - Native Americans once used its hard, smooth seeds as decorative beads. - Puccoon comes from an Algonquian word meaning 'red dye plant'. - The sunny yellow flowers are among the very first to bloom in spring! ## Special abilities - **Deep Root Explorer:** Narrowleaf puccoon has a remarkably long taproot that helps it find water deep underground to survive dry conditions. - **Early Nectar Beacon:** Its bright yellow flowers bloom early in spring, offering a vital nectar source for hungry pollinators awakening from winter. - **Ancient Dye Maker:** The roots of this plant can produce a natural, vibrant yellow-red dye, historically used by various Indigenous peoples. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 10-40 cm - **Spread:** 15-30 cm - **Flower Size:** 1-2.5 cm - **Bloom Season:** Spring to early summer - **Edible:** No - **Toxicity:** None - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** European honey bee (*Apis mellifera*) — collects nectar and pollen from flowers - **Pollinates:** Common eastern bumblebee (*Bombus impatiens*) — actively transfers pollen, helping the plant reproduce - **Pollinates:** Orange Sulphur butterfly (*Colias eurytheme*) — visits its flowers for nectar, aiding in pollination ## Traits - [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle. - [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. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Edible](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/edible): Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption. - [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 - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always look but don't touch wildflowers, as some can be delicate. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify narrowleaf puccoon? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is narrowleaf puccoon? 10-40 cm ### How wide does narrowleaf puccoon spread? 15-30 cm ### How big are the flowers on narrowleaf puccoon? 1-2.5 cm ### When does narrowleaf puccoon bloom? Spring to early summer ### Is narrowleaf puccoon edible? No ### Is narrowleaf puccoon toxic? None ### What is narrowleaf puccoon's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Brandon Road Lock and Dam](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/brandon-road-lock-and-dam) — Illinois, US · Historic Site - [Bryce Canyon Lodge Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bryce-canyon-lodge-historic-district) — Utah, US · Historic District - [Bryce Canyon National Park Scenic Trails Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bryce-canyon-national-park-scenic-trails-historic-district) — Utah, US · Trail - [Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bighorn-canyon-national-recreation-area) — Montana, US · National Park - [Black Earth Rettenmund Prairie State Natural Area](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/black-earth-rettenmund-prairie-state-natural-area) — Wisconsin, US · State Park - [Butte-Anaconda Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/butte-anaconda-historic-district) — Montana, US · Historic District [View all places to see narrowleaf puccoon](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/narrowleaf-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: [Narrowleaf Puccoon: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/narrowleaf-puccoon)