Penstemon laevigatus

Common Names

Eastern Smooth Beardtongue, Appalachian Beardtongue, Smooth Beardtongue, Eastern Beardtongue

Summary

Penstemon laevigatus is an eastern North American perennial growing about 2–3 feet tall, with opposite lance-shaped leaves. It blooms May–July, producing pale pink to white to purple tubular flowers arranged in open clusters on the upper stems; nectar and pollen attract bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds, and the plant serves as a larval host for the Common Buckeye butterfly (Junonia coenia).

Native to the eastern United States, including parts of North Carolina, habitats range from woodlands to fields and edges on rich, moist soils with good drainage. It tolerates full sun to shade and moisture from moist to occasionally dry; hardy in USDA zones 6a–8b, making it suitable for pollinator gardens and naturalized plantings in suitable climates.

Lifecycle

Perennial

Height

2-3 feet

Spread

24 inches

Hardiness Zones

Zones 5-10

Sunlight Requirements

Ideally Full Sun; tolerates Partial Sun, Partial Shade, and Full Shade.

Soil Type

Well-drained sandy or loamy soil (pH 6.0–7.5)

Soil Drainage

Well-drained soil (not waterlogged)

Soil pH

7.6-7.8, Circumneutral to mildly alkaline soils

Bloom Color

Purple, White

Bloom Time

Spring to early summer (May–July)

Foliage Color

Glossy, bright green

Fall Foliage Color

Burgundy

Leaf Lifecycle

Evergreen broadleaf

Growth Rate

Moderate growth rate

Seasons of Interest

Spring and Summer

Propagation Methods

Seeds and Cuttings

Attracts Wildlife

Bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds