Penstemon canescens (Britton) Britton. Common name: Appalachian Beardtongue. Phenology: May-Jul. Habitat: Woodlands, glades, forest edges, rocky woodlands, roadsides. Distribution: PA and s. IN south to nc. GA, n. AL, and c. TN.
Origin/Endemic status: Endemic
Synonymy ⓘ: = F, FNA17, G, Il, K4, S, Va, WV; > Penstemon brittonorum Pennell — S; > Penstemon canescens (Britton) Britton — Pa, RAB, W, Clements, Baskin, & Baskin (1998); >< Penstemon canescens (Britton) Britton — C; > Penstemon canescens (Britton) Britton var. brittonorum (Pennell) Pennell — Pennell (1935); ~ Penstemon canescens (Britton) Britton var. typica Pennell; > Penstemon canescens (Britton) Britton var. typicus — Pennell (1935). Basionym: Penstemon laevigatus Aiton var. canescens Britton 1890
Links to other floras: = Penstemon canescens - FNA17
Show parent genus | Show parent in key(s)
Heliophily ⓘ: 7
Hover over a shape, letter, icon, or arrow on the map for definition or see the legend.
© Alan M. Cressler | Original Image ⭷
© Gary P. Fleming | Original Image ⭷
© Alan Cressler: Penstemon canescens, Chattahoochee National Forest, Rabun County, Georgia 2 by Alan Cressler source | Original Image ⭷
© Joey Shaw source | Original Image ⭷
© Joey Shaw source | Original Image ⭷
© Joey Shaw source | Original Image ⭷Feedback
See something missing or incorrect about Penstemon canescens? Let us know here:
- Please include your name and if possible, email in case when need to clarify what you wrote.
- If you opt out of including email, please be as specific as possible (e.g., which photo is incorrect?)
- Please do not submit questions asking to identify plants or about horticultural topics (e.g., how do I control an invasive plant in my garden?). Instead, those questions can be submitted here for the Carolinas region only.
- Please do not send us feedback about unkeyed species as this work is ongoing.
- Please allow time for flora edits to show in our next data release. We greatly appreciate your feedback but may require extra time to research complicated taxonomic issues.
Horticultural Information
Intro: Erect perennial found in woodlands, glades, forest edges, rocky woodlands and along roadsides.
Stems: Stems 1-several but not branched above base, covered with spreading hairs.
Leaves: Leaves opposite, sessile, elliptic-oblong to narrowly triangular (basal leaves broader), to 5 1/2 in. long, toothed, hairy.
Inforescence:
Flowers: Flowers in a moderately compact terminal panicle, with glandular-hairy branches angled upward; pinkish-lavender; 1/2-1 1/4 in. long; bilaterally symmetric; the corolla tubular with 2 lips, the upper one 2-lobed and slightly shorter than the lower, which is 3 lobed. Corolla throat white with purple lines inside and a barely protruding yellow-bearded tongue.
Fruits:
Comments: Identification of Penstemon species is difficult due to variations in flower characters such as color, patterning, relative length of parts and degree of constriction/dilation of the corolla tube.
Height: 1-2 1/2 ft.
plant sale text: Eastern Gray Beardtongue has numerous tubular flowers, typically white with a tinge of pink, held on wiry upright stems above basal foliage. This southeastern native perennial is sometimes seen on roadsides, primarily in the coastal plain and piedmont. Good drainage is essential. As with other species of Penstemon, light self- sowing may occur as a welcome Bonus.
bloom table text:
description: Erect perennial found in woodlands, glades, forest edges, rocky woodlands and along roadsides.
stems: Stems 1-several but not branched above base, covered with spreading hairs.
leaves: Leaves opposite, sessile, elliptic-oblong to narrowly triangular (basal leaves broader), to 5 1/2 in. long, toothed, hairy.
inflorescence:
flowers: Flowers in a moderately compact terminal panicle, with glandular-hairy branches angled upward; pinkish-lavender; 1/2-1 1/4 in. long; bilaterally symmetric; the corolla tubular with 2 lips, the upper one 2-lobed and slightly shorter than the lower, which is 3 lobed. Corolla throat white with purple lines inside and a barely protruding yellow-bearded tongue.
fruits:
comments: Identification of Penstemon species is difficult due to variations in flower characters such as color, patterning, relative length of parts and degree of constriction/dilation of the corolla tube.
cultural notes:
germination code:
native range: southeastern United States
0 unsaved edits on this page.