Penstemon smallii

Small’s Beardtongue is a bright perennial wildflower which naturally grows in the rocky soils of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Green to purplish stems rise from an attractive bronzy-tinted winter rosette. In early summer, it has tubular, snapdragon type bright pinkish-purple blossoms that attract hummingbirds and beneficial insects. They are lavender on the outside, white on the inside with pronounced purple nectar guides and fuzzy small hairs. Small’s Beardtongue generally flourishes in sun or open shade on thin, infertile soil with good drainage. Also it is long-flowering in May and June. Thus it is ideal for rock gardens, hillsides, or any area with well-drained soil in need of a little color. We have found it to be dependable and rewarding to grow, attractive in groups and drought tolerant. Individual plants are not long lived but it will seed out to replace itself. Small’s Beardtoung is also easy to propagate by cuttings. Native bees, butterflies and hummingbirds sip nectar from the flowers. Small’s Beardtongue was one of the first (1984) North Carolina Wildflowers of the Year, in the program of the NC Botanial Garden and the Garden Club of NC begun in 1982 to promote outstanding garden worthy native plants.