Eastern Beardtongue Penstemon laevigatus
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- PEN-stem-on lee-vih-GAY-tus
- Description
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Eastern smooth beardtongue is a North Carolina native in the Plantaginceae family. Smooth Beardtongue is a herbaceous perennial that may grow 2 to 3 feet tall. The leaves are opposite with a slightly toothed margin and hairy underside. The lower leaves are long-stemmed while the upper ones have short stems. It is found in woodlands and fields, preferring rich moist soils and full sun. Its leaves are opposite, stalkless, lance-shaped (2"-4" long). Its purplish-white blooms appear in open clusters on the upper parts of the stems from May through July. They are tubular and asymmetrical with a hairy lower lip, hence the common name beardtongue. It is easy to grow, medium water use, low maintenance plant. It makes an excellent choice for a rock, butterfly, or cottage garden.
This plant was selected as the 2002 NC Wildflower of the Year, a program managed by the North Carolina Botanical Garden with some financial support from the Garden Club of North Carolina.
Fire Risk: This plant has a medium flammability rating.
Seasons of Interest:
Bloom: Spring-Summer, May-July Fruit/Seed/Nut: Late summer
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Penstemon
- Species:
- laevigatus
- Family:
- Plantaginaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Eastern United States
- Fire Risk Rating:
- medium flammability
- Wildlife Value:
- This plant provides nectar for pollinators. Common Buckeye (Junonia coenia) larvae which has two to three broods from May-October. Caterpillars eat the host plant's leaves while adults feed on the nectar of composite flowers including aster, chicory, gumweed, knapweed, and tickseed sunflower. Bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds are attracted to its blooms.
- Play Value:
- Wildlife Food Source
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- This plant is moderately resistant to damage from deer.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Native Plant
- Wildflower
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
- 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:
- High Organic Matter
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
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Fruit:
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Summer
- Fruit Description:
- Flowers bloom from July to August.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Purple/Lavender
- White
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Tubular
- Flower Description:
- The Smooth Beardtongue has pale purple to almost white flowers. Flowers bloom from May to July.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Velvety
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Leaf Shape:
- Lanceolate
- Leaf Margin:
- Dentate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- The leaves of the Smooth Beardtongue are opposite with a slightly toothed margin and a hairy underside. The lower leaves are long-stalked while the upper ones have short petioles.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Meadow
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Cottage Garden
- Native Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Rock Garden
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Butterflies
- Hummingbirds
- Pollinators
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
