Pacific hound's tongue

Adelinia grandis

Pacific hound's tongue is a unique plant with beautiful, fuzzy leaves. It grows in coastal areas and can attract butterflies and bees, making it a special part of nature's garden.

Habitat: Coastal areas

Appearance

The Pacific hound's tongue has broad, fuzzy green leaves that resemble a dog's tongue. Its delicate blue-purple flowers, sometimes white, grow in loose clusters atop tall stems, standing out against the forest floor.

KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassMagnoliopsidaOrderBoraginalesFamilyBoraginaceaeGenusAdelinia

Photo: Walter Siegmund (talk)CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia CommonsView original ↗

Pacific hound's tongue

Interesting facts

Its large, soft leaves actually feel like a puppy's ear! Wow!

Little blue flowers open up like tiny umbrellas after winter rains! Wow!

Some small creatures use its big leaves as a cozy hiding spot! Wow!

The plant's scientific name Adelinia honors a famous botanist! Wow!

Special abilities

Pacific hound's tongue produces barbed seeds that stick to animals, spreading its offspring far and wide.

Pacific hound's tongue can thrive in low-light conditions, allowing it to grow in dense forest understories.

Measurements & details

Height: 30-90 cm
Spread: 30-60 cm
Flower Size: 0.5-1.5 cm
Bloom Season: Late winter to early summer
Edible: No
Toxicity: Moderate
Lifecycle: Perennial
Pollination Method: Insect

Ecological connections

Pollinates

Yellow-faced Bumblebee

Bombus vosnesenskii

Collects nectar and pollen.

Depends on

Mule Deer

Odocoileus hemionus

Disperses seeds stuck to fur.

Shelter

Coast Live Oak

Quercus agrifolia

Provides shade for understory growth.

Traits

Furry

Furry describes animals possessing a dense covering of soft hair or fur.

Flowering

Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle.

Evergreen

Evergreen plants retain their foliage throughout the year, never shedding all their leaves at once.

Medicinal

Medicinal plants possess chemical compounds that can be used for therapeutic purposes to treat illnesses or maintain health.

Pollinator Magnet

Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms.

Coastal

Coastal habitats are dynamic environments located along the interface between land and sea, influenced by tides, waves, and saltwater.

Also known as

No aliases listed yet.

Collections

Plants

Safety

Danger

1/5 · Very low

Always look but don't touch plants unless you know they are safe.

Frequently Asked Questions

How to identify Pacific hound's tongue?

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 Pacific hound's tongue?

30-90 cm

How wide does Pacific hound's tongue spread?

30-60 cm

How big are the flowers on Pacific hound's tongue?

0.5-1.5 cm

When does Pacific hound's tongue bloom?

Late winter to early summer

Is Pacific hound's tongue edible?

Is Pacific hound's tongue toxic?

Moderate

What is Pacific hound's tongue's lifecycle?