Penstemon Small's 'Beard Tongue'

The rising stems of mauve pink flowers are perfect for borders. They bloom for month, tolerate poor soils and are quite easy going.

This variety is often sought but rarely offered.

Small’s Beard Tongue is an open sub shrub* with a casual, easy nature. The mid green leaves grow low on the stems and bronze in the winter. It is a native wildflower of North America. It is also known as Small’s Penstemon

Plant Pink Beard Tongue in poor, to moderately fertile, well drained soil. Water to establish then only if rainfall is low, dry tolerant once established. Prune the flowers after each flush, to keep them coming! They can rebloom up to four times a year.

Also known as Small’s Penstemon or Pink Beard Tongue, they look fantastic as part of a border or in a rock garden. The bees and butterflies love them.

The name, Beard Tongue comes from the flowers, if you have a close look at them, they have two ‘lips’ that look like a gaping mouth with a long, hairy tongue (staminode).

* A sub shrub is a type of shrub that is woody only at the base of the plant. It is usually pruned back to this base after flowering to promote healthy growth.