Penstemon smallii

Common Names

Small's Penstemon, Small's Beardtongue

Summary

Penstemon smallii, commonly Small's Beardtongue, is a native perennial of the southeastern United States in the Plantaginaceae. It grows in upright, bushy clumps about 1–2 ft tall and about 1 ft wide, bearing tubular lavender-pink flowers with white throats on dark stems from late spring to early summer, attracting bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. Natural habitats include rocky slopes, cliffs, wood margins, and rocky banks with well-drained soils from full sun to partial shade.

For cultivation, it prefers well-drained acidic to neutral soils and can tolerate full sun to partial shade, avoiding wet sites. Propagation is by seed or root division; seeds germinate outdoors in spring and the plant often self-seeds, spreading around. It is hardy in USDA zones 5–8 and is moderately drought-tolerant, deer- and rabbit-resistant, making it a suitable addition to native pollinator plantings and rock or wildlife gardens.

Lifecycle

Perennial

Height

18-24 inches

Spread

12 inches

Hardiness Zones

Zones 5-8

Sunlight Requirements

Full Sun to Partial Shade, Partial Sun preferred, not suitable in Full Shade

Soil Type

Well-drained, sandy or rocky soil with acidic to neutral pH

Soil Drainage

Well-drained soil

Soil pH

Penstemon smallii tolerates any soil pH, including acidic, alkaline, and neutral.

Bloom Color

Purple to pink

Bloom Time

Spring to early Summer

Foliage Color

Green (green with purple veins; may turn bronze-red in winter; sometimes chartreuse)

Fall Foliage Color

Reddish Bronze

Leaf Lifecycle

Deciduous

Growth Rate

Medium

Seasons of Interest

Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter

Propagation Methods

Seeds, Cuttings, Division

Attracts Wildlife

Bees and other pollinators, Butterflies, Hummingbirds