Penstemon smallii
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- PEN-stem-on SMAL-ee-eye
- Description
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Small's Beardtongue is an herbaceous perennial that blooms for up to four weeks, much longer than other eastern penstemons, and may repeat bloom during the season. It occurs naturally in places that are in shade for half the day, but also tolerates full sun. The rosette of leaves are often evergreen through winter and the taap root makes it drought tolerant. It is short-lived (2-3 seasons) but reseeds close around. Purple stems bear rounded purple-veined leaves up to 6 inches long. Pink to purple tubular flowers with purple-striped, white throats appears in early summer. The native habit of this plant includes wood margins, exposed or shaded cliffs & banks.
Use this plant in average well-drained soil in full sun to part shade and make sure it will not have wet feet, especially in the winter as root rot will occur. Use in a rock garden or native pollinator garden as a border plant or in small groups. If it is happy it can rebloom three or four times a year. Don't give it too much fertilizer, as they tend to become leggy and prefer dry or rocky soils with low to moderate fertility. Small's bear tongue is easy to start from seeds.
This plant was selected as the 1984 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.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No significant problems. Will not tolerate heavy wet clay soils
- See this plant in the following landscapes:
- Backyard Grouping HOA Pollinator Garden Pollinator Garden- Full Sun Pollinator Garden- Partial Shade Foundation Planting- West Side of House
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- Cultivars / Varieties:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Penstemon
- Species:
- smallii
- Family:
- Plantaginaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Wildlife Value:
- It is a host plant for the Common Buckeye butterfly. Hummingbirds and butterflies 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.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 2 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 1 ft. 4 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Herb
- Native Plant
- Perennial
- Wildflower
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Clumping
- Texture:
- Coarse
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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:
- Sand
- Shallow Rocky
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- NC Region:
- Mountains
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
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Fruit:
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Conical capsule with tiny black seeds. Fruit displays in summer to fall.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Pink
- Purple/Lavender
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Panicle
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Tubular
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Numerous, tube-shaped, dark-pink, white-throated flowers that are borne on upright, branched stalks up to 2 1/2 ft. high. Differing from other eastern penstemons, the flowering branches extend down into the axils of the leafy stems, giving the plant a bushy look. Flowers bloom from May to June.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Long-lasting
- Showy
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Red/Burgundy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Leaf Shape:
- Lanceolate
- Leaf Margin:
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- The shiny, opposite leaves have attractive, dark veins and clasping, heart-shaped bases. The basal rosette of leaves turns reddish-bronze in the winter. Basal leaves are larger and can reach up to 8 inches long and 3 inches wide. Stem leaves are smaller 2-6 inches long and 0.8 to 1 inch wide.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Red/Burgundy
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Cross Section:
- Round
- Stem Form:
- Straight
- Stem Surface:
- Smooth (glabrous)
- Stem Description:
- Green stems with a reddish blush
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Naturalized Area
- Slope/Bank
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Native Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Rock Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Small groups
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Butterflies
- Hummingbirds
- Pollinators
- Small Mammals
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Drought
- Dry Soil
- Poor Soil