Gulf Coast Penstemon

Penstemon tenuis

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

Courtesy: Bloodworth, Stefan, https://www.wildflower.org/gallery/result.php?id_image=19068

Courtesy: Smith, R.W., https://www.wildflower.org/gallery/result.php?id_image=90315

Plant Ecoregion Distribution Map (hover for ecoregion names)

Native Habitat: Grassland, Wetland or Riparian

Gulf Coast Prairies and Marshes

Maintenance

Low. Leave seed on stalks to reseed and feed wildlife

Comments

One inch purple bell flowers on short spikes in spring that attracts butterflies, hummingbirds, and bees. May rebloom in fall. Good tough filler plant. If watered may form thick green mat for groundcover in summer. Very ristricted area near Houston.

Growth Form

Herbaceous

Height

1 to

1.5 ft

Spread

0.5 to

1 ft

Soil Type(s)

Sand, Loam, Clay, Acid, Poor Drainage

Light Requirement

Sun, Part Shade

Water Requirement

Medium

Leaf Retention

Deciduous

Lifespan

Perennial

Bloom Color

Purple

Bloom Season

Spring

Seasonal Interest

Nectar

Wildlife Benefit

Butterflies, Hummingbirds, Bees

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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.

Native Plant Society of Texas