Penstemon smallii - SMALL'S BEARDTONGUE

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)