Penstemon smallii - Beardtongue

The Penstemon smallii is a perennial beardtongue that should appeal to lovers of natural, flowing gardens. This North American species combines a commendable tolerance for moisture, a charming two-tone pink flowering, and a friendly tendency to self-seed randomly in the garden in slightly cool areas. Its generous summer flowering is carried by a bushy plant whose foliage beautifully takes on chocolate to purple tones at the end of the season. This lovely plant tolerates ordinary, well-drained, preferably acidic soil and easily survives our winters.

The penstemon smallii belongs to the family Scrophulariaceae, just like foxgloves and snapdragons. It is a botanical species native to the mountainous regions of the southeastern United States. It is a bushy herbaceous perennial plant whose above-ground vegetation almost completely dries up in winter, except for the basal rosette of leaves that persists. This penstemon forms a beautiful tuft of about 55 cm (22in) in all directions, composed of branched stems adorned with dark green lanceolate foliage, which tinges more or less with brown to purple during the season, just like the stems. Its growth is relatively rapid. The flowering extends from July to early September, lasting about five weeks and developing in the terminal part of the leafy stems. The bicoloured flowers, of a good size, with long bell-shaped campanulate corollas, slightly hairy, are gathered in somewhat loose clusters. They display a wine-coloured pink on the outside, with the interior of the corolla equipped with long bristles, a very pale pink streaked with purple. After pollination by pollinating insects, fruits containing fine seeds are formed, which spontaneously self-sow in favourable areas.

The penstemon smallii is used in beds or borders, in a sunny or shaded position in the afternoon in hot climates, and among perennials such as bellflowers and columbines, Carex, or even foxgloves. Its pairing with pink or purple Dahlias is also very successful. Penstemons also make perfect-cut flowers.