Description
Penstemon australis
Also known as: Sandhill Beardtongue
Pink beardtongue is one tough plant. Native to well-drained sandhills and open woodlands, it is extremely drought tolerant and forgiving of low soil nutrients. It prefers full sunny locations, but can do well if given at least half a day of sunshine. Each flower stalk produces a dozen or more soft-pink blooms from spring until mid fall, and each flower stalk is one to three feet tall and may produce a dozen or so over the course of the blooming season. Penstemon australis needs good drainage and no nearby competition to persist…a superb rock garden candidate. Beardtongues are mostly pollinated by bees and wasps, though hummingbirds also stop by to use them.
Yearly Foliage: Perennial
Hardiness Zone: 7-9
Light: Full Sun
Mature Growth: 1-3 feet
Soil: Average, Sandhills, dry pinelands and sandy well drained soil
Blooms: May – July
Wildlife: Nectar-insects, Nectar-butterflies, Nectar-bees, Hummingbirds
Plant Size when available: 1 gallon
