In late spring there is a surge of new growth in open areas. There are many wildflowers that attract our attention at this time and the emergence of lemonweed may go unnoticed. It is weedy in early stages and after flowering, but the small yellow blooms have their own unique beauty at the height of the flowering period.

• Lithospermum ruderale is a perennial in the borage family.
• Several (mostly unbranched) hairy stems rise from a woody base above a woody taproot.
• Lanceolate hairy leaves grow on the stem. The lowest leaves are shorter.
• Dense clusters of pale lemon-yellow flowers emerge from the axils of the upper leaves.
• We usually see lemonweed in bloom in late spring.
• All photos by the author. Click an image for a caption.

• Lemonweed grows on dry hillsides, in open areas, in open forests, at low and mid elevations.
• The species is hermaphroditic, that is, it has both male and female organs, and is pollinated by Insects.
• Other names for this species/related species are Columbian growell and western stoneseed.
• One to 4 clustered brown/grey nutlets form after flowering.
• Lemonweed was used as a contraceptive by some Indigenous groups and some laboratory evidence supports its effectiveness. Other groups used a concoction to stem internal bleeding and other disorders. The seeds were also used as charms or as decorative beads. The plant has been used to make a yellow or red dye.

We are not planning on collecting seeds from lemonweed. We are just happy to see its emergence in spring as a sign of the resurgence of the growing season.