COMMON NAME
SCIENTIFIC NAME
Plant family
Borage (Boraginaceae)
Plant group
Wildflowers and Herbs
As the name suggests, this native annual produces curled cluster heads of small yellow-orange flowers that resemble the head of a fiddle. Poisonous to livestock, the bristle hairs can cause skin irritation in humans.
This species of fiddleneck has a broad distribution, occurring in the US as far north as Alaska and as far south as Texas. Lawrence's goldfinch and other birds are known to eat the seeds.