[The Hound's Tongues of the Columbia River Gorge of Oregon and Washington]
Grand Hound's Tongue, Great Hound's Tongue, Pacific Hound's Tongue

Cynoglossum grande

Grand Hound's Tongue, Great Hound's Tongue, Pacific Hound's Tongue: Cynoglossum grande

Great hound's tongue as seen at Catherine Creek, Columbia Gorge Scenic Area.....April 14, 2007.
Inflorescence of Grand Hound's Tongue, Great Hound's Tongue, Pacific Hound's Tongue: Cynoglossum grande The photo at right shows a close-up of the inflorescence of great hound's tongue as seen at Catherine Creek, Columbia Gorge Scenic Area.....5/4/91.
Characteristics:

 

Great hound's tongue is an attractive addition to the open woodland garden where it does well under Oregon white oaks. I have one that has flowered dependably for a number of years, slowly increasing in size. So far it has not naturalized, which might be a concern out of its range since so many borages can spread easily and become a nuisance. If you buy plants from a nursery, make sure that the flowers are blue rather than purple or violet, the sign of the weedy common houndstongue which you don't want to start in your neighborhood!

Habitat:

Great hound's tongue may be found in open oak or pine woods at lower and middle elevations.

Range:

Great hound's tongue may be found from southern British Columbia south to San Luis Obispo and Tulare counties, Californa. It is found wholly west of the Cascades except inthe Columbia River Gorge.

In the Columbia River Gorge, it may be found between the elevations of 100'-2500' between Grant Lake in the west and the Klickitat River in the east.

Grand Hound's Tongue, Great Hound's Tongue, Pacific Hound's Tongue: Cynoglossum grande - Grand Hound's Tongue, Great Hound's Tongue, Pacific Hound's Tongue: Cynoglossum grande

Great houndstongue as seen amidst poison oak in oak forest on the east side of Catherine Creek about two-thirds of a mile north of the powerlines. Columbia River Gorge................April 3, 2012.

Grand Hound's Tongue, Great Hound's Tongue, Pacific Hound's Tongue: Cynoglossum grande

Great hound's tongue blooming along the Dog Mountain Trail in the Columbia River Gorge...............May 4, 2011.
Paul Slichter