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Plant Database

Search for native plants by scientific name, common name or family. If you are not sure what you are looking for, try the Combination Search or our Recommended Species lists.

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Penstemon pallidus (Pale penstemon)
Bransford, W.D. and Dolphia

Penstemon pallidus

Penstemon pallidus Small

Pale Penstemon, Pale Beardtongue

Scrophulariaceae (Figwort Family)

Synonym(s): Penstemon arkansanus var. pubescens, Penstemon brevisepalus

USDA Symbol: PEPA7

USDA Native Status: L48 (N), CAN (I)

Slender, herbaceous perennial, 8-30 in. tall. White, snapdragon-like flowers are marked with fine purple lines within the throat.

 

From the Image Gallery

1 photo(s) available in the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Herb
Fruit Type: Capsule
Size Notes: Up to about 30 inches tall.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: White , Blue , Purple
Bloom Time: Apr , May , Jun , Jul
Bloom Notes: White, sometimes tinged lavender or blue, with reddish purple nectar guides.

Distribution

USA: AL , AR , CT , DC , GA , IA , IL , IN , KS , KY , MA , MD , ME , MI , MN , MO , NC , NH , NJ , NY , OH , PA , RI , TN , VA , VT , WI , WV
Native Distribution: ME to MI, IL & IA, s. to NY, KY & KS
Native Habitat: Dry woods; fields

Growing Conditions

Light Requirement: Part Shade
Soil Description: Well-drained soils.

Value to Beneficial Insects

Special Value to Native Bees
Special Value to Bumble Bees

This information was provided by the Pollinator Program at The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation.

Propagation

Description: Propagate by seed.
Seed Treatment: Germination is best with cold-moist stratification.
Commercially Avail: yes

National Wetland Indicator Status

Region:AGCPAKAWCBEMPGPHIMWNCNEWMVE
Status: FACU FACU FACU UPL UPL
This information is derived from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers National Wetland Plant List, Version 3.1 (Lichvar, R.W. 2013. The National Wetland Plant List: 2013 wetland ratings. Phytoneuron 2013-49: 1-241). Click here for map of regions.

Web Reference

Webref 38 - Flora of North America (2019) Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.
Webref 80 - Illinois Wildflowers (2002) John Hilty
Webref 23 - Southwest Environmental Information Network (2009) SEINet - Arizona Chapter

Additional resources

USDA: Find Penstemon pallidus in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Penstemon pallidus in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Penstemon pallidus

Metadata

Record Modified: 2023-02-22
Research By: TWC Staff

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