Distribution: Occurring in scattered localities on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington; British Columbia to California, scattered localities east to the Atlantic Coast.

Habitat: Disturbed soil.

Flowers: June-August

Origin: Introduced from Eurasia

Growth Duration: Perennial

Conservation Status: Not of concern

Pollination: Bees, flies

Tap-rooted, perennial herbs, usually single-stemmed, the stems 4-15 dm. tall, with spreading, pungent hairs throughout.

Basal leaves oblanceolate, petiolate; cauline leaves lanceolate to oblong, sessile and often clasping, up to 30 cm. long and 8 cm. wide.

Inflorescence a terminal, bracteate, false raceme, the bracts narrow, the pedicels erect; calyx 8-10 mm. long, cleft to well below he middle, the 5 lobes slender; corolla showy, funnel-shaped, blue, the limb 12-20 mm. wide, the 5 rounded lobes spreading; the 5 filaments attached near the top of the corolla tube, the anthers extending into the corolla throat; nutlets with a stipe-like base that fits into a pit in the receptacle, the base surrounded by a thickened rim.

Nutlets 4, erect, 5-9 mm. high and half as thick, coarsely ridged.