North Carolina Wildflowers, Shrubs, & Trees

by Jeffrey S. Pippen | Back to Jeff's Plant Page | Jeff's Nature Pages


Plantaginaceae > Penstemon (beardtongue)

Recently radically reorganized, the Plantaginaceae now contains several genera formerly placed in the Scrophulariaceae.
Southern Beardtongue (Penstemon australis) Southern Beardtongue (Penstemon australis)
Person Co., NC
13 June 2006

Common in the NC coastal plain and fairly common in dry soils in the piedmont.

Southern Beardtongue (Penstemon australis) Southern Beardtongue (Penstemon australis)
Person Co., NC
13 June 2006

The flower tube contains staminodes with hairs, thus giving rise to the common name of the genus (beardtongues).

Southern Beardtongue (Penstemon australis) Southern Beardtongue (Penstemon australis)
Person Co., NC
13 June 2006

Leaves opposite, stem hairy.


Foxglove Beardtongue, Tall White Penstemon, Talus Slope Penstemon (Penstemon digitalis) Foxglove Beardtongue, Tall White Penstemon, Talus Slope Penstemon (Penstemon digitalis)
Wet field at Mason Farm, Orange Co., NC
16 May 2009

Common in the western 2/3 of NC, this species grows in moist, often disturbed, habitats. Note the outer half of the corolla is inflated.

Foxglove Beardtongue, Tall White Penstemon, Talus Slope Penstemon (Penstemon digitalis) Foxglove Beardtongue, Tall White Penstemon, Talus Slope Penstemon (Penstemon digitalis)
Wet field at Mason Farm, Orange Co., NC
16 May 2009

The throat of the flower is open.

Foxglove Beardtongue, Tall White Penstemon, Talus Slope Penstemon (Penstemon digitalis) Foxglove Beardtongue, Tall White Penstemon, Talus Slope Penstemon (Penstemon digitalis)
Wet field at Mason Farm, Orange Co., NC
16 May 2009

The floor of the corolla is lined with a few purple streaks and is only slightly ridged.

Foxglove Beardtongue, Tall White Penstemon, Talus Slope Penstemon (Penstemon digitalis) Foxglove Beardtongue, Tall White Penstemon, Talus Slope Penstemon (Penstemon digitalis)
Wet field at Mason Farm, Orange Co., NC
16 May 2009

While the inflorescence is glandular-pubescent, the stems are glabrous.

Foxglove Beardtongue, Tall White Penstemon, Talus Slope Penstemon (Penstemon digitalis) Foxglove Beardtongue, Tall White Penstemon, Talus Slope Penstemon (Penstemon digitalis)
Wet field at Mason Farm, Orange Co., NC
16 May 2009


Eastern Smooth Beardtongue (Penstemon laevigatum) Eastern Smooth Beardtongue (Penstemon laevigatum)
Harnett Co., NC
21 May 2006

Common and statewide in North Carolina in various habitats.

Eastern Smooth Beardtongue (Penstemon laevigatum) Eastern Smooth Beardtongue (Penstemon laevigatum)
Harnett Co., NC
21 May 2006

Eastern Smooth Beardtongue (Penstemon laevigatum) Eastern Smooth Beardtongue (Penstemon laevigatum)
Harnett Co., NC
21 May 2006


beardtongue (Penstemon) unidentified beardtongue (Penstemon sp.)
Montgomery Co., NC
17 May 2013

beardtongue (Penstemon) unidentified beardtongue (Penstemon sp.)
Montgomery Co., NC
17 May 2013

beardtongue (Penstemon) unidentified beardtongue (Penstemon sp.)
Montgomery Co., NC
17 May 2013

beardtongue (Penstemon) unidentified beardtongue (Penstemon sp.)
Montgomery Co., NC
17 May 2013

beardtongue (Penstemon) unidentified beardtongue (Penstemon sp.)
Montgomery Co., NC
17 May 2013

beardtongue (Penstemon) unidentified beardtongue (Penstemon sp.)
Montgomery Co., NC
17 May 2013


Annotated habitat and distribution information listed above is from Radford, Ahles, & Bell. 1968. Manual of the Vascular Flora of the Carolinas. UNC Press; and from personal observations and discussions with Will Cook, Harry LeGrand, and Bob Wilbur. Common names from personal experience and supplemented by the following resources USDA plants website, Flora of the Carolinas, Virginia, and Georgia, and NatureServe.


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Created on May 9, 2006 | jeffpippen9@gmail.com