Common Name
Eastern gray beard-tongue
Gray beard-tongue
Plant Form
Herbs
Duration
Perennial
Max Height (ft)
3.0
Width (ft)
1.0 -
1.5
Region
Coastal
Piedmont
Mountain
Hardiness Zone
5,
6,
7,
8
Commercially Available
Nurseries that may carry live plant:
Nurseries that may carry seeds:
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Habitat
Dry-mesic to dry upland forests, rocky woodlands, barrens, dry clearings, and roadsides; calcareous or gravelly river bluffs in the Coastal Plain; tolerant of a range of soil and rock types, thriving on both extremely acidic and strongly calcareous substrates. Common in the Virginia mountains; frequent in the inner Piedmont; infrequent in the outer Piedmont; rare in the Coastal Plain
Wildlife value
It is a host plant for the Common Buckeye butterfly. Hummingbirds, butterflies and other pollinators are attracted to the blooms. Members of the genus Penstemon support the following specialized bee: Osmia (Melanosmia) distincta
Flower Color
Purple/lavender
Flower Prominence
Conspicuous
Bloom Time
Spring
Early Summer
Bloom Month
May
June
July
Light Requirements
Full sun
Moisture Requirements
Average
Soil Texture
Loamy
Sandy
Low Maintenance
Yes
Deer Resitant
Yes
Seed or Fruit eaten by wildlife?
Yes
Pollinators
Bees
Butterfiles
Hummingbirds
Tolerates