From mid-spring to early summer, this resilient native of the eastern and central US flaunts showy panicles of white, pink-tinged flowers. Also known as eastern white beardtongue, it's one of the shorter eastern species and its tubular-shaped blooms are a favorite of many species of bees and of hummingbirds. Pale beardtongue is easily grown in average to dry, well-drained soils in full sun or part shade. It dislikes wet, poorly drained soils and has high tolerance for drought, summer heat, and humidity. Remove spent racemes to promote additional flowering. Give the plant a dressing of mulch before winter in colder climates. Pale beardtongue has no serious insect or disease problems; however, root rot, leaf spots, and rusts may occur in wet, poorly-drained soils.
Penstemons are one of the largest genus' native only to North America. Species can be found everywhere on the continent. They are sometimes called beardtongues because the unusual sterile stamen contained in each flower has a tuft of small hairs. The genus name Penstemon probably refers to the Latin word paene, meaning "almost" or "nearly," and the Greek word stemon, meaning "stamen." Penstemon may also come from the Greek words penta, meaning "five" and stemon, meaning "stamen." Both refer to the fifth, sterile stamen that characterizes members of this genus. The specific epithet comes from the Latin word meaning "pale" in reference to the pale white flowers and pale green foliage.
Native habitats include dry or rocky open woods, glades, sandy soils on prairies, bluffs, rocky cliffs, abandoned fields, and sides of railroads. Mass in sunny borders, rock gardens, cottage gardens and open woodland areas. Great for water-wise landscapes.
Plant Characteristics:
Grows 18 - 30" tall and 12 - 18" wide.
Grows in part shade, but at least 6 hours of sun produces the best blooms.
Prefers dry to average soils and adapts to a range of soil types; once established, requires minimal water. Tolerates drought and shallow-rocky soils.
The central stem is topped May-June by a 4-10” panicle of two-lipped, tubular, white flowers. The upper lip of each flower has 2 lobes and the lower lip has 3 lobes. Flowers are followed by ovoid seed capsules about 1/4” long that split open when ripe, releasing numerous tiny seeds.
Basal leaves form a rosette. Green stem leaves are narrow, lanceolate, partially clasping and up to 2” long.
Reproductive System: each flower has both male (stamens) and female (carpels) parts (synoecious/hermaphroditic/perfect).
Wildlife Value:
Penstemons are host plants to 10 species of Lepidoptera larvae, including the specialist moth poison ivy leafminer, and the common buckeye and Baltimore butterflies. Deer and rabbits tend to avoid the bitter taste of the plant.
Medicinal, Edible, and Other Uses:
Penstemon has been used for hundreds of years by Native Americans as an important medicinal plant. Extracts from the roots were applied to gunshot and arrow wounds, inserted into the tooth cavity for pain, and taken directly for consumption and whooping cough.
The flowers were boiled to make a sweet tea.
Resources:
Go Botany!: https://gobotany.nativeplanttrust.org/species/penstemon/pallidus/
Missouri Botanical Garden: https://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?taxonid=286988
National Wildlife Federation: https://nativeplantfinder.nwf.org/Plants/2501
Rhode Island Wild Plant Society: https://riwps.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/Penstemons.pdf