Southern Beardtongue Penstemon australis
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- PEN-stem-on aw-STRAL-iss
- Description
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A short-lived native of the coastal plains from Louisanna to southeast Virginia, it can be found flourishing in dry pinelands, thin upland woods, sandhills, and dry fallow fields.
Each plant consists of one or more flowering stems formed from a rosette of leaves. Those leaves are smooth, rounded with a tapered base, and toothed. The upper stem leaves (Cauline) are lance-shaped (narrowing at both ends) with sparsely toothed margins.
The flowers are tubular shaped and two-lipped. The upper lip is 2-lobed, the lower is 3-lobed. The blooms are pink to rose-purple on the outside and white with dark purple lines on the inside. The staminode (non-functional stamen) protrudes from the flower, similar to a tongue from an open mouth, giving rise to the common name 'beard tongue'.
It is easy to grow in sandy, low nutrient, well-drained soil in full sun to partial shade. Use in the native pollinator garden or rock garden.
Insects, Diseases and Other Plant Problems: A short-lived perennial.
- 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:
- Penstemon
- Species:
- australis
- Family:
- Plantaginaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- SE USA
- Wildlife Value:
- Members of the genus Penstemon support the following specialized bee: Osmia (Melanosmia) distincta. Attracts bees and humming birds.
- Play Value:
- Attracts Pollinators
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- Heat and drought tolerant.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 1 ft. 3 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Native Plant
- Wildflower
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Low
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- 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:
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Shallow Rocky
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Occasionally Dry
- Very Dry
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Description:
- Capsule containing several seeds July to August.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Green
- Pink
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Panicle
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Lipped
- Tubular
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- The 1-inch flowers are deep rose in color on the outside and white on the inside. Clusters of flowers occur on multiple terminal stems. Flowers bloom from May to July.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Red/Burgundy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Rosulate
- Leaf Shape:
- Lanceolate
- Oblanceolate
- Obovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Basal rosette of oblanceolate to obovate leaves 2-4 inches long and .5 to 1 inch wide. Stem leaves are often edged in red, serrated, clasping and lanceolate. 2-4 inches long. Surface with short hairs.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Form:
- Straight
- Stem Surface:
- Hairy (pubescent)
- Stem Description:
- Single stemmed. Not branched above the base.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Coastal
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Native Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Hummingbirds
- Pollinators
- Small Mammals
- Specialized Bees
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Dry Soil
- Poor Soil
