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Bransford, W.D. and Dolphia

Penstemon murrayanus

Penstemon murrayanus Hook.

Scarlet Penstemon, Scarlet Beardtongue, Red Penstemon, Red Beardtongue, Cupleaf Penstemon, Cupleaf Beardtongue

Scrophulariaceae (Figwort Family)

Synonym(s):

USDA Symbol: PEMU2

USDA Native Status: L48 (N)

Cupped, pale blue-green leaves surround the erect, reddish, 2-6 ft. stems of scarlet beardtongue. Scarlet, tubular, unevenly 5-lobed flowers in stalked clusters, rise in pairs from upper leaf axils.

This is considered a valuable hummingbird flower.

From the Image Gallery

13 photo(s) available in the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Herb
Leaf Retention: Deciduous
Leaf Venation: Pinnate
Leaf Margin: Entire
Fruit Type: Capsule
Size Notes: Up to about 6 feet tall.
Flower: Flowers 1 inch long

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: Red
Bloom Time: Mar , Apr , May , Jun

Distribution

USA: AR , LA , OK , TX
Native Distribution: E. TX & adjacent parts of OK, AR & LA
Native Habitat: Woodlands' edge, Opening, Prairie, Plains, Meadows, Pastures, Savannas

Growing Conditions

Water Use: Low
Light Requirement: Part Shade
Soil Moisture: Dry
Soil pH: Acidic (pH<6.8)
Soil Description: Various well-drained soils. Sandy, Sandy Loam

Benefit

Use Ornamental: Perennial garden, Showy, Blooms ornamental
Use Wildlife: A valuable hummingbird flower. Nectar-hummingbirds
Conspicuous Flowers: yes

Value to Beneficial Insects

Special Value to Native Bees

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

Propagation

Propagation Material: Seeds
Description: Propagate by seed.
Seed Treatment: Germination is best with cold-moist stratification.

Wildflower Center Seed Bank

LBJWC-1183 Collected 2008-07-24 in Anderson County by Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center

1 collection(s) available in the Wildflower Center Seed Bank

Bibliography

Bibref 355 - Landscaping with Native Plants of Texas and the Southwest (1991) Miller, G. O.
Bibref 765 - McMillen's Texas Gardening: Wildflowers (1998) Howard, D.
Bibref 318 - Native Texas Plants: Landscaping Region by Region (2002) Wasowski, S. & A. Wasowski
Bibref 248 - Texas Wildflowers: A Field Guide (1984) Loughmiller, C. & L. Loughmiller

Search More Titles in Bibliography

Web Reference

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

Additional resources

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

Metadata

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

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