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Penstemon smallii
Small's Beard Tongue
Item #: 1414
Zones: 4a to 8b
Dormancy: Evergreen
Height: 18" tall
Origin: United States
Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)
Penstemon smallii has long been a favorite Southeast US (NC to Alabama) native beard tongue. The bushy, 6" tall winter rosettes of green foliage with reddish overtones, give rise to 12" tall stalks, laden with small lavender bells in May and June (NC). Penstemon smallii is short-lived (2-3 years), but seeds around nicely...always in the perfect spot. In the wild, it grows on rocky mountainous slopes and outcrops, and needs a similar condition in the garden for it to thrive...think very good drainage...even to the point of mixing in small gravel in poorly drained soils. It's also a great food source for native bees.
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Other Attributes
Genus: Penstemon
Flower Color: Purple/Lavender
Leaf Color: Green
Bloom Time: Spring
Garden Themes: Rock Garden Plants
Other: Drought Tolerant Plants , Georgia native plants , Pollinator Plants , North American Native Plants , North Carolina Native Plants , Rabbit Resistant Plants , United States Native Plants