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Penstemon smallii - SMALL'S BEARDTONGUE

Product Code: PEN-SMA-X
Shipping: Calculated at Checkout
$7.99

Underused charming native perennial with strictly upright bushy habit. Evergreen leaves with purple veins, smaller tubular purple-pink flowers in large airy panicles. Surprisingly (rather) long flowering period for about 6 weeks (or even more, depending on the place). Penstemon smallii is more like the woodland-edge species, so it grows well in half shade to light shade, but is adaptable to full sun. It adapts to many soils too, but in rich soils it becomes short-lived (about 3 years), although it will self-seed.

Our opinion: it is a must-have plant! Hummingbirds love it too! Try it in a sunny border, woodland edge, wildlife garden, rockery or low maintenance planting…. this is a beautiful wildflower and wonderful perennial for naturalizing. Great combos include Coreopsis verticillata, Coreopsis lanceolata or other tickseed, because they overlap in bloom time and contrast nicely in color and structure.

Picture copyright: US Perennials nursery

Blooming Time: June/July–July
Size: 1.5-2 ‘ high x 1’ wide
USDA Zones: 5 to 8
Culture: Sun to half shade, adaptable to a wide range of soils (very poor soil, sandy, rocky, gravel up to clayish), but some drainage is always useful and prolongs its life. It’s worth improving the soil for it - dig a bigger hole and add some gravel and/or coarse sand and mix well, then plant.
Moisture Needs: dry, medium-dry, medium
Origin: southeastern states - North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Georgia and Alabama. Quite a rare species that naturally occurs near rocky areas, cliffs, steep slopes, and at woodland edges.
Deer/Rabbit Resistant: yes/yes
Attracts Butterflies or Pollinators: yes - native bees, honey bees, butterflies
Attracts Hummingbirds: yes
Pot Size: 3.5" x 4" perennial pot (1.22 pt/580 ml)

Penstemon smallii - SMALL'S BEARDTONGUE

$7.99
 

Underused charming native perennial with strictly upright bushy habit. Evergreen leaves with purple veins, smaller tubular purple-pink flowers in large airy panicles. Surprisingly (rather) long flowering period for about 6 weeks (or even more, depending on the place). Penstemon smallii is more like the woodland-edge species, so it grows well in half shade to light shade, but is adaptable to full sun. It adapts to many soils too, but in rich soils it becomes short-lived (about 3 years), although it will self-seed.

Our opinion: it is a must-have plant! Hummingbirds love it too! Try it in a sunny border, woodland edge, wildlife garden, rockery or low maintenance planting…. this is a beautiful wildflower and wonderful perennial for naturalizing. Great combos include Coreopsis verticillata, Coreopsis lanceolata or other tickseed, because they overlap in bloom time and contrast nicely in color and structure.

Picture copyright: US Perennials nursery

Blooming Time: June/July–July
Size: 1.5-2 ‘ high x 1’ wide
USDA Zones: 5 to 8
Culture: Sun to half shade, adaptable to a wide range of soils (very poor soil, sandy, rocky, gravel up to clayish), but some drainage is always useful and prolongs its life. It’s worth improving the soil for it - dig a bigger hole and add some gravel and/or coarse sand and mix well, then plant.
Moisture Needs: dry, medium-dry, medium
Origin: southeastern states - North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Georgia and Alabama. Quite a rare species that naturally occurs near rocky areas, cliffs, steep slopes, and at woodland edges.
Deer/Rabbit Resistant: yes/yes
Attracts Butterflies or Pollinators: yes - native bees, honey bees, butterflies
Attracts Hummingbirds: yes
Pot Size: 3.5" x 4" perennial pot (1.22 pt/580 ml)

 

Customer Reviews

6 Review
  • favorite penstemon= Small's! 5

    Posted by Heather on Jun 11 2025

    I love this penstemon (and so do the bees)--it's so charming. Much shorter than digitalis, as the description says. Also great for light/high shade. I did have a couple peter out in heavier shade, but those I planted on the north side of some shrubs are blooming profusely in their second year.

  • Flowers 5

    Posted by Sheryl GENZEL on May 02 2025

    Everything is growing great. Best place around for plants.

  • Order 5

    Posted by Whitney Mattila on Apr 29 2025

    Healthy and beautiful plant. Couldn't ask for more!