This plant so far gets the prize for the most number of alternate names! I haven’t found too much information on it, however I do know that it is beneficial for native bees. There are many types of beardtongue, which is a pretty cool name, and they are called that because their tubular flowers have a hairy lower lip.
Alternate Names: Eastern Smooth Penstemon, Smooth Penstemon, Smooth Beardtongue, Eastern Penstemon, Eastern Beardtongue, Hairy Penstemon, Hairy Beardtongue Size: 2'-3' tall Family: Lycaenidae (Plantain Family) Habitat: Sun with moist conditions, woodlands and fields. Identification: Its leaves are opposite, stalkless, lance-shaped (2"-4" long). Its purplish-white blooms appear in open clusters on the upper parts of the stems from May through July. They are tubular and asymmetrical with a hairy lower lip, hence the common name beardtongue. From NC Extension Gardener Flowers May-July.
Leaves, stem, and flowers Leaf arrangement and shape (the broad leaves)
