Woodland Beardtongue Nothochelone nemorosa
Previously known as:
- Chelone nemorosa
- Penstemon nemorosus
- Phonetic Spelling
- no-tho-CHEE-low-nee nee-mo-ROH-sah
- Description
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Woodland beardtongue is a perennial herb with a woody base in the plantain (Plantaginaceae) family. It is similar in appearance to penstemons and commonly called the woodland penstemon. It was moved from the Penstemon genus to Nothochelone because of its winged seed. It is native to western North America from British Columbia, Canada to northern California. It grows in mountain forests and has been found at elevations of 4000 - 7500 feet.
The woodland beardtongue is found in rocky soils in mixed evergreen forests, cliffs, partially sunny glades in the woods, and forest edges. It prefers partially shaded, moist environments but can tolerate sunny areas and dry rocky soils.
It produces erect, finely short-hairy stems 1 - 4 feet tall from a woody crown. The stems have multiple branches with each with a few flowers. It flowers in mid-summer to early fall. Similar to penstemons, it has hairy sepals and 1 to 3-inch fat, glandular, tubular flowers with a two-lobed upper lip and three-lobed lower lip. The flowers are usually pink or purple with hairy staminodes. Unlike penstemons, capsules have widely winged seeds. The leaves are smooth with fine, short hairs on the underside and coarsely toothed edges. Propagation is with seeds or summer stem cuttings.
This plant is appropriate for use in the woodland or pollinator northern Pacific garden. It wouldn't be happy in the Southeast USA humidity.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No significant problems
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Nothochelone
- Species:
- nemorosa
- Family:
- Plantaginaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- SW. Canada to NW. California
- Distribution:
- NW California, Washington, Oregon, SW Canada
- Wildlife Value:
- Attracts bees and hummingbirds
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Perennial
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Multi-stemmed
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Shallow Rocky
- Soil pH:
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- The capsules contain small winged seeds
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Pink
- Purple/Lavender
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Panicle
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Lipped
- Tubular
- Flower Petals:
- 2-3 rays/petals
- Flower Size:
- 1-3 inches
- Flower Description:
- The flower has hairy sepals and is tubular with a two-lobed upper lip and a three-lobed lower lip. Flowers occur in a loose terminal branched panicle. Individual flowers are 1-2 inches long with hairs on the outside and smooth inside the tube.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Lanceolate
- Linear
- Leaf Margin:
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- The leaves are short-stalked, narrow, and thin. The margins are toothed and the undersides have hairs. They are 1-4 inches long with the lower leaves being shorter.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Surface:
- Hairy (pubescent)
- Stem Description:
- The stem is erect and hairy extending from a woody crown.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Pollinator Garden
- Shade Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Hummingbirds
- Pollinators
