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Pink Plains Penstemon

Penstemon ambiguus

Other common name(s):

Pink Plains Beardtongue, Gilia Penstemon, Gilia Beardtongue, Sand Penstemon, Sand Beardtongue

Family:

Plantaginaceae (Plantain Family)

Plant Ecoregion Distribution Map

Chihuahuan Deserts, High Plains
Chihuahuan Basins and Playas, Chihuahuan Desert Grasslands, Chihuahuan Montane Woodlands, Low Mountains and Bajadas, Stockton Plateau
Arid Llano Estacado, Canadian/Cimarron High Plains, Llano Estacado, Rolling Sand Plains, Shinnery Sands

Plant Characteristics

Growth Form

Herbaceous

Height

1
to
4
ft.

Spread

1
to
4
ft.

Leaf Retention

Semi Evergreen

Lifespan

Perennial

Habitat and Care Requirements

Soil Type(s)

Sand, Loam, Well Drained, Dry

Light Requirement

Sun, Part Shade

Water Requirement

Low

Native Habitat

Grassland

Bloom and Attraction

Bloom Color

White, Pink

Bloom Season

Spring, Summer, Fall

Seasonal Interest

Nectar

Wildlife Benefit

Nectar Insects, Hummingbirds, Bees

Maintenance

Tolerates most any well drained soil, but prefers sand. Will grow a little shorter on heavy soils. Propagation: Seed, Root division.

Comments

Blooms May-October. This penstemon is a mounded, shrub-like perennial. Provides masses of flowers half of the year. In warmer climates it may bloom all year. Flowers are whitish-pink, tubular shaped, pansy-like faces. Flowering increases with age as the woody base produces more stems. Leaves are thread-like in width, some persisting year-round. Tolerates hot and dry conditions.

References

1) Griffith, Bryce, Omernick & Rodgers (2007). Ecoregions of Texas. 2) Wasowski, Sally and Wasowski, Andy, Native Texas Plants, Landscaping Region by Region, 1988, 1991, pg 199. 3) Miller, George O., Landscaping with Native Plants of Texas 2nd Ed., 2013, pg 48. 4) http://bonap.net/TDC/Image/Map?taxonType=Species&taxonId=17233&locationType=County&mapType=Normal. 5) https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=PEAM. 6) https://portal.torcherbaria.org/portal/taxa/index.php?taxon=Penstemon+ambiguus&formsubmit=Search+Terms, 7) https://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=33808#null

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State Office Phone: 830.997.9272

State Office Address:
Native Plant Society of Texas
PO Box 3017
Fredericksburg, TX 78624

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