Smooth Penstemon Penstemon laevigatus

Eastern smooth beardtongue is a native, herbaceous perennial, wildflower found in the Eastern United States, often in Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina. It is found in the Piedmont and Coastal Plains of North Carolina in forests, meadows, swamps, and fields. This plant has an erect habit, green to burgundy-red stems, and grows 1 to 4 feet tall. It has a basal rosette of green leaves and racemes of pale purple tubular blooms at the top of the stem. The genus name, Penstemon, is derived from two words: the Latin word, paene, meaning "almost or nearly," and the Greek word, stemon, meaning "stamen," referring to the flower's fifth, sterile stamen. The specific epithet, laevigatus, is Latin, meaning smooth, and refers to this plant's smooth stems. It is a member of the plantain family (Plantaginaceae).

This plant prefers rich, moist, loamy soils with a slightly acidic pH and full sun to partial shade. It is more tolerant of wet soils than many of the other species. It is a low-maintenance plant. Best propagated by seeds that may require cold stratification to encourage germination.

The eastern smooth beardtongue has a dark green basal rosette of oblong-lanceolate to lanceolate leaves, 3 to 7 cauline leaves along its upright stem, and pale purple blooms that appear in open clusters on the upper parts of the stems from May through July.  The flowers are tubular and symmetrical with a hairy lower lip, hence the common name beardtongue.

The eastern smooth beardtongue may sometimes be confused with another species, known as Penstemon digitalis or tall white beardtongue. It has white flowers that may sometimes be a lavender shade, but its anthers have short hairs and a smaller corolla. It is commonly found in the Mississippi River Basin, whereas the eastern smooth beardtongue is found in the Piedmont and Eastern Appalachians and has smooth anthers.

Consider the eastern smooth beardtongue in a butterfly garden, cottage garden, rock garden, or pollinator garden. The flowers will attract hummingbirds, bees, and butterflies.

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No serious insect pests or diseases. It may be susceptible to leaf spot, rust, powdery mildew, and southern blight. Root rot can occur in overly wet or poorly drained soil.

More information on Penstemon.