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Eastern Smooth Beardtongue
Penstemon laevigatas

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.
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