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.
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Penstemon smallii
Key Info
Common Names: Small's Beardtongue, Small's Penstemon
Family Names: Scrophulariaceae (Figwort Family)
Plant Type: Herbaceous perennial
Flower Color: Lavender/pink with white throats
Additional Info
Habit: A small, clump-forming herbceous perennial with upright stems arising from a basal rosette, oppsite leaves, flowers in clusters at the top of the stems, and a deep tap root.
Height: 1-2'
Spread: 1'
Soil Conditions: Moist well drained or dry, acidic or alkaline pH, loamy, sandy, clay, rocky or gravelly soils.
Leaves: Opposite, soft, heart-shaped leaves up to 8” long and 3” across with dark purplish veins, pointy tips, serrated margins and clapsing bases. The basal rosette of leaves turns reddish-bronze in the winter.
Flowers (or reproductive structures: Panicles of lavender to purple tubular flowers occur on the ends of stalks, and (unlike other eastern penstemons) also in upper leaf axils. The flowers are 1.5 inches long and tubular. The outer surface of the corolla tube is pinkish-purple and the inner surface is white marked with distinct purple nectar guides and prominent hairs. Blooming occurs in late spring or early summer and lasts for four to six weeks.
Fruit: Florets are followed by small capsules containing many tiny brown/tan seed that germinate easily.
Natural Distribution: Found mostly in rock outcrops, margins of woods, metamorphic or shale glades and barrens, rocky slopes, cliffs, banks, mountain coves and boulderfields.
USDA Hardiness Zone: 5 to 9
USDA Wetland Indicator Status in NC: not available
Pollination: Bees, butterflies, other insects.
Wildlife Connections: Penstemon smallii attracts large numbers of native bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds, which sip nectar from the flowers. The leaves and stems are unpalatable to deer and other herbivores.
Propagation: By division in fall or early spring, or by seeds.