Smooth Blue Beardtongue

Scientific name

Penstemon nitidus

Description

The Smooth Blue Beardtongue is a perennial wildflower species that typically grows about 30 cm in height. This plant may also be known by the common name Waxleaf Pestemon. The leaves are oppositely arranged, light green coloured, sessile, and oblong to ovate shaped. The basal leaves are larger and have petioles. The flowers are pink, purple blue, or light blue in colour, have two lips, five lobes, appear in clusters at the top of the stem, and bloom between May and July. The flowers are attractive to pollinator species, like butterflies and bees.

Planting conditions

Smooth Blue Beardtongue grows best in dry to normal conditions with full sun exposure. It prefers well-drained sandy, loamy, or rocky soil types. It is drought tolerant but young plants should be watered occasionally until established. This wildflower can be naturally found in dry meadows, prairies, rocky slopes, sandy hills, and along dry shoreline slopes.

Details

• Plant height:
  • Max 1.5m
  • Max 2m
  • Max 3m
  • Any
• Moisture level:
  • Dry
  • Normal
  • Drought Tolerant
• Light conditions:
  • Full sun
• Soil type:
  • Sandy
  • Loamy
  • Rocky
• pH:
  • Normal
• Depth:
  • Wildflower
• Eco Zone:
  • 3a
  • 3b
  • 4a
  • 4b
  • 5a
  • 5b
  • 6a
  • 6b
  • 7a
  • 7b
• Plant type:
  • Wildflower
• Height:
  • 30 cm
• Spread:
  • 50 cm