Lilac Penstemon
ExplorePlants
Lilac Penstemon
Penstemon gracilis
The Lilac Penstemon is a beautiful flower with lovely purple blooms. It attracts butterflies and bees, making gardens colorful and lively!
Habitat: Grasslands
Appearance
The Lilac Penstemon has slender stems adorned with narrow, lance-shaped leaves. Its vibrant lavender-pink to purple-blue tubular flowers grow in loose clusters along the stem, featuring a distinctive white 'beard' on the lower lip that makes it stand out from other wildflowers.
KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassMagnoliopsidaOrderLamialesFamilyPlantaginaceaeGenusPenstemon
Category
PlantsRarity
Common
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Snaps
Be the first to snap!
Interesting facts
Its name 'Penstemon' means 'five stamens', but one is fuzzy and sterile!
Look closely inside the flower for delicate white lines that guide insects to nectar!
Some people call this flower 'Beard-tongue' because of its unique hairy stamen!
This flower can sometimes appear more purple-blue, and other times a soft pink!
Special abilities
Ability
Pollinator Beacon
Lilac Penstemon has brightly colored, tubular flowers that attract long-tongued bees and hummingbirds for successful pollination.
Ability
Rocky Resilience
Lilac Penstemon can thrive in poor, rocky, well-drained soils, allowing it to grow where many other plants cannot survive.
Ability
Winter Survivor
Lilac Penstemon has underground roots and crowns that survive freezing winters, helping it return year after year.
Measurements & details
- Height
- 30-60 cm
- Spread
- 30-45 cm
- Flower Size
- 1.5-2.5 cm
- Bloom Season
- Late spring to early summer
- Edible
- No
- Toxicity
- None
- Lifecycle
- Perennial
- Pollination Method
- Insect
Ecological connections
pollinates
Common Eastern Bumblebee
Bombus impatiens
collects nectar and pollen
pollinates
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Archilochus colubris
drinks nectar from tubular flowers
eaten by
White-tailed Deer
Odocoileus virginianus
browses on leaves and stems
pollinates
European Honey Bee
Apis mellifera
visits flowers for nectar
Traits
Flowering
Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle.
Spring Blooming
Spring blooming plants produce their flowers during the spring season, often signifying the end of winter and the start of new growth.
Summer Blooming
Summer blooming plants produce their flowers during the summer season, often providing vibrant color when many other plants have finished.
Fragrant Flower
Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense.
Colorful
Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors.
Grassland
Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals.
Pollinator Magnet
Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms.
Also known as
No aliases listed yet.
Collections
Safety
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Always look but don't touch flowers without asking an adult first.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall is Lilac Penstemon?
30-60 cm
How wide does Lilac Penstemon spread?
30-45 cm
How big are the flowers on Lilac Penstemon?
1.5-2.5 cm
When does Lilac Penstemon bloom?
Late spring to early summer
Is Lilac Penstemon edible?
No
Is Lilac Penstemon toxic?
None
What is Lilac Penstemon's lifecycle?
Perennial
How is Lilac Penstemon pollinated?
Insect
Snap Map
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