Gray Beardtongue
Penstemon canescens
Silvery gray-green foliage and lavender-pink spikes that hummingbirds and bumblebees probe relentlessly. Thrives on rocky slopes, takes clay.
Typically 1 pint–1 gal · $9–$30 · final price at pickup
- Thu, Aug 138 AM – 4 PM
- Fri, Aug 148 AM – 4 PM
- Sat, Aug 158 AM – 2 PM
Appalachian beardtongue adapted to our regional conditions. fuzzy silver foliage, hummingbird blooms, no fuss.
Gray beardtongue is an Appalachian native that thrives on the rocky, well-drained slopes and ridgelines where few perennials compete. The common name comes from the soft gray-green fuzz coating the foliage and stems, a silvery texture that reads beautifully against dark soil or stone. In late spring and early summer, two-foot spikes carry lavender-pink tubular flowers that hummingbirds and bumblebees probe relentlessly. This is one of the Penstemons that tolerates the heavy clay and humidity of the mid-Atlantic and upper South better than many western species. It establishes reliably, forms tidy clumps, and rarely needs staking. The basal rosette persists as semi-evergreen through mild winters, giving the planting year-round structure.
A nursery-grown plant, ready for the ground.
Healthy, container-grown gray beardtongue propagated on-site at Hill House from regional genetics. Includes a one-page care card. We make every effort to supply plants as listed; occasionally we substitute a similar species of equal value.
- Sun
- Full sun
- Water
- Dry
- Mature size
- 1.5–3 ft · 12–18 in wide
- Bloom time
- May–July
- USDA zones
- 5–8
- Family
- Plantaginaceae
- Native range
- Appalachian region from Pennsylvania south to Georgia and Alabama, into the Cumberland Plateau
Care notes for gray beardtongue.
Full sun to light shade in dry to average, well-drained soil. Excellent drainage is the key requirement. Penstemon canescens resents wet feet more than drought. Shear flower stalks after bloom to keep plants tidy. Division is rarely needed but can rejuvenate older clumps.
Pairs well with these.
Same light, same soil, same wildlife. Janet's picks to plant alongside gray beardtongue.
Or skip the guesswork.
Curated packages bundle complementary species for an instant habitat. One reservation, one pickup day, a printed layout map.
Short on Space Package
For gardeners who have an abundance of passion but are short on space, this package features tidy, upright, clump-forming natives that behave and function well in small spaces.
Shade Bed Package
Ferns, sedges, and woodland natives that thrive under existing trees.
Birder’s Paradise Package
For the avid bird watchers and budding ornithologists in our community, the Birder’s Paradise Package consists of species that Hill House Nursery staff and longtime native plant advocates such as Doug Tallamy consider ‘premier bird garden plants’.