Pronounced (approximate): BESS-ee-ah BOOL-ee-eye
Dense pale flower spikes rise above a basal rosette.
Kittentails (Besseya bullii): flowers and plant details. Tap the photo to open the gallery.
Family Plantaginaceae
Life cycle Herbaceous perennial
Blooms April–June
Height 8–16 inches
Habitat Dry sandy prairies, bluffs, barrens, and open woods
Common names: Kittentails · Kitten-tails
Other scientific names used: Synthyris bullii · Veronica bullii
Bloom timing and height vary with location. See the regional range below.
Explore reported observations. Sightings are not a complete range map.
Dry sandy prairies, bluffs, barrens, and open woods. Flowering season: april–june.
Regional sources use Besseya bullii or Synthyris bullii; Kew currently places the species in Veronica as Veronica bullii.
Dense pale flower spikes rise above a basal rosette.
Broad oval basal leaves are hairy and scallop-edged.
Long projecting stamens give the spikes a fuzzy appearance.
Dry sandy prairies, bluffs, barrens, and open woods.
22 field photographs. Select a photograph to enlarge it; use Load more photos to see the rest.
Native to the upper Midwest and Great Lakes region.
Documented U.S. state records
IL, IN, IA, MI, MN, OH, WI
Documented state occurrences; native and introduced records may both be included. This is not a county-level map.
Observation maps show submitted records, not every place the plant occurs. Follow local access rules when visiting a site.
Practice recognizing Kittentails in the flower quiz, or compare it with other plants in the guide.
Field photographs: Where’s Wildlife.