Penstemon canescens aka Eastern Gray Beardtongue

Penstemon canescens has the common name eastern gray beardtongue. It belongs to the plantain family. This herbaceous perennial lives for years and has no woody stems. It grows in the eastern United States. Its range runs from Illinois into the Appalachians and Piedmont. Wild plants grow in woods, glades, forest edges, and roadsides. They also grow in rocky woodland sites. The plant forms clumps and spreads by rhizomes, or underground stems. It grows 1–3 feet (0.3–0.91 metres) tall. Its spread reaches 1–1.5 feet (0.3–0.46 metres).

Short gray hairs cover the upright stems and leaves. The stiff stems seldom branch above the base. Broad leaves shaped like eggs cluster near the ground. Leaves on the stems grow in opposite pairs. They clasp the stems and have no leaf stalks. Their shapes range from oblong to lanceolate, or lance-shaped. Their edges have teeth. The leaves have a gray-green cast. The plant is deciduous, so it sheds its leaves. The gray hairs help tell it apart when blooms are absent.

Loose racemes, or flower clusters, grow at the stem tips. They bear purple blooms from May through July. Each tube-shaped flower has two lips and a white throat. Purple lines mark the throat. A yellow, hairy sterile stamen sits beside them. This bearded stamen gives the plant its common name. The top lip has two lobes; the lower has three. Small, smooth capsules form after the blooms in July and August. Each seed pod holds many seeds. Bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds visit the blooms. The plant also hosts the young of common buckeye butterflies.

Grow this species in full sun and soil that drains well. It suits acidic loam and dry to somewhat moist soil. Once settled in, plants cope with drought. Wet soil in winter can cause root rot. It grows in USDA hardiness zones 5–8. Remove spent flower clusters to keep it in bloom longer. After bloom, cut stems back to the leaves at the base. Divide plants in fall or early spring. Seeds need cold stratification, a cold spell, before they sprout.

Use it in sunny borders, rock gardens, and native plantings. Its blooms suit gardens meant for pollinators. It needs little care and has few serious pests or diseases. Slugs, snails, and nematodes may still cause harm. Leaf spot, powdery mildew, and rust can occur. Good airflow helps curb fungal disease. Water below the leaves to help curb it too. The plant resists deer to a moderate degree. Deer may still eat much of its foliage.