Carried by 0 nurseries
View Availability at NurseryData provided by the participants of the Consortium of California Herbaria
View additional distribution information on the Jepson eflora
Lithospermum ruderale is a species of flowering plant in the borage family known by the common name western stoneseed. It is native to western Canada and the western United States, where it can be found in many types of habitat. It is a hairy perennial herb growing from a taproot and woody caudex. It produces a cluster of erect leafy stems 20 to 50 centimeters tall. The stems are lined with lance-shaped leaves up to 8 centimeters long. Bunches of flowers appear toward the top of the stem amongst the leaves. The corolla is light yellow and about a centimeter long and wide. This plant was used as a contraceptive by several Native American groups, including the Navajo and Shoshone. Studies on mice showed the plant reduced their fertility.
Perennial herb
8 - 19 in Tall
Mounding
Moderate
White, Yellow
Spring
Full Sun, Partial Shade
Prefers loamy soils.
Open, dry slopes, plains, steppe,
Northern Juniper Woodland, Sagebrush Scrub
Butterflies and moths supported
0 confirmed and 2 likely
Gray Ethmia Moth
Ethmia monticola
Police Car Moth
Gnophaela vermiculata