Small's beardtongue is an herbaceous perennial in the plantain family (Plantaginaceae) that is native to mountainous areas of the southeast USA. They can be found growing in rock outcrops, glades, barrens, bluffs, and rocky slopes. The specific epithet and common name was given in honor of John Kunkel Small (1869-1938) This plant will grow to 3 feet tall when in bloom and gradually spread 1-2 feet wide. It prefers partial sun but also tolerates full sun. Well-drained acidic to neutral soil is preferred and it will not do well in wet sites. The rosette of leaves is often evergreen through winter and the tap root makes it drought-tolerant. It is short-lived (2-3 seasons) but reseeds close around. Purple stems bear rounded purple-veined leaves up to 6 inches long. Pink to purple tubular flowers with purple-striped, white throats appear in early summer. They bloom for up to four weeks, much longer than other eastern penstemons, and may rebloom. Use this plant in average well-drained soil in full sun to part shade and make sure it will not have wet feet, especially in the winter as root rot will occur. Use in a rock garden or native pollinator garden as a border plant or in small groups. Don't give it too much fertilizer, as they tend to become leggy and prefer dry or rocky soils with low to moderate fertility. Small's beardtongue is easy to start from seeds. This plant was selected as the 1984 NC Wildflower of the Year , a program managed by the North Carolina Botanical Garden with some financial support from the Garden Club of North Carolina. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No significant problems. Will not tolerate heavy wet clay soils More information on Penstemon .
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Loam (Silt); Sand; Shallow Rocky
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist | Occasionally Dry
NC region
Mountains
Mature size
Height: 2 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in. | Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 1 ft. 4 in.
Growth rate
Medium
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous (3-15 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Clumping
Texture
Medium
Foliage
Deciduous
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Opposite
Leaf shape
Lanceolate
Leaf margin
Serrate
Leaf value
Long-lasting; Showy
Leaf size
3-6 inches long, 1-3 inches wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
The shiny, opposite leaves have attractive, dark veins and clasping, heart-shaped bases. The basal rosette of leaves turns reddish-bronze in the winter. Basal leaves are larger and can reach up to 8 inches long and 3 inches wide. Stem leaves are smaller 2-6 inches long and 0.8 to 1 inch wide.
Fall color
Red/Burgundy
Flower color
Pink; Purple/Lavender; White
Flower value
Showy
Flower form
Panicle
Flower shape
Tubular
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
Numerous, tube-shaped, dark-pink, white-throated flowers that are borne on upright, branched stalks up to 2 1/2 ft. high. Differing from other eastern penstemons, the flowering branches extend down into the axils of the leafy stems, giving the plant a bushy look. Flowers bloom from May to June.
Bloom time
Summer
Fruit type
Capsule
Fruit size
< 1 inch long, < 1 inch wide
Fruit detail
Conical capsule with tiny black seeds. Fruit displays in summer to fall.
Stem color
Green; Red/Burgundy
Stem detail
Green stems with a reddish blush
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Native
Wildlife value
It is a host plant for the Common Buckeye butterfly. Hummingbirds and butterflies are attracted to its blooms.
Attracts
Bees; Butterflies; Hummingbirds; Pollinators; Small Mammals; Songbirds
Play value
Wildlife Food Source
Food & Medicine
Harvest time
Fall; Summer
Fruit type
Capsule
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Naturalized Area; Slope/Bank; Woodland
Landscape theme
Butterfly Garden; Native Garden; Pollinator Garden; Rock Garden