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Gulf Coast Penstemon

Penstemon tenuis

Other common name(s):

Brazos Penstemon, Brazos Beardtongue, Gulf Penstemon, Gulf Beardtongue, Gulf Coast Beardtongue, Sharp-sepal Penstemon, Sharp-sepal Beardtongue

Family:

Plantaginaceae (Plantain Family)

Plant Ecoregion Distribution Map

Gulf Coast Prairies and Marshes
Northern Humid Gulf Coastal Prairies

Plant Characteristics

Growth Form

Herbaceous

Height

1
to
1.5
ft.

Spread

0.5
to
1
ft.

Leaf Retention

Deciduous

Lifespan

Perennial

Habitat and Care Requirements

Soil Type(s)

Sand, Loam, Clay, Acid, Poor Drainage

Light Requirement

Sun, Part Shade

Water Requirement

Medium

Native Habitat

Grassland, Wetland or Riparian

Bloom and Attraction

Bloom Color

Purple

Bloom Season

Spring

Seasonal Interest

Nectar

Wildlife Benefit

Butterflies, Hummingbirds, Bees

Maintenance

Low maintenance. Leave seed on stalks to reseed and feed wildlife. If watered may form thick green mat for groundcover in summer. Propagation: Seed.

Comments

Blooms March-June. One inch purple bell flowers on short spikes in spring that attracts butterflies, hummingbirds, and bees. May rebloom in fall. Good tough filler plant. Relatively rare in the wild but available in nurseries and NPSOT plant sales. Pollination: Bees, butterflies, and nectar insects.

References

1) Griffith, Bryce, Omernick & Rodgers (2007). Ecoregions of Texas. 2) Miller, George O., Landscaping with Native Plants of Texas 2nd Ed., 2013, pg 48. 3) Wasowski and Wasowski, Native Texas Plants Landscaping Region by Region, 1991, pg. 201. 4) https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=PETE3. 5) http://bonap.net/TDC/Image/Map?taxonType=Species&taxonId=17371&locationType=County&mapType=Normal. 6) https://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=33781#null, 7) Native and Adapted Landscape Plants, City of Austin and Texas A&M, 2014.

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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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