WHERE’S WILDLIFE • WILDFLOWER FIELD GUIDE

Pale Beardtongue

Penstemon pallidus

Pronunciation (approximate): PEN-steh-mon PAL-ih-dus

White tubular flowers have a lower lip that projects beyond the upper lip. Explore the photographs below, from flower details to the plant in its surroundings.

Pale Beardtongue: white flowers showing extended lower lips. Tap to browse the photo gallery.

NATIVE • WILDFLOWER

At a glance

Family Plantaginaceae
Life cycle Perennial
Blooms Mid-spring–early summer
Height 1–2½ feet
Habitat Dry prairies, rocky open woods, savannas and glades

Bloom dates and size vary by region and growing conditions. Native status refers to North America.

Sightings map

Explore reported observations. Sightings are not a complete range map.

How to recognize it

Key identification clues

White tubular flowers have a lower lip that projects beyond the upper lip.
Yellow hairs mark the flower throat.
Opposite narrow leaves and stems are softly hairy.

Where and when to look

Dry prairies, rocky open woods, savannas and glades. Look for flowers in mid-spring–early summer; local conditions affect timing.

Photograph the whole plant

Include the flowers, lower leaves, stem and surrounding vegetation. A single close-up may hide useful identification features.

A closer look

Flower details

White tubular flowers have a lower lip that projects beyond the upper lip.

Leaves & stems

Yellow hairs mark the flower throat.

Whole plant & habitat

Opposite narrow leaves and stems are softly hairy.

Field photographs

Browse 15 photographs. Tap any image to enlarge it; use Load more photos for additional views.

Pale Beardtongue (Penstemon pallidus): white flowers showing extended lower lips. — Pale Beardtongue (Penstemon pallidus) — white flowers showing extended lower lips.

Pale Beardtongue (Penstemon pallidus): patch of white-flowered stems in grasses. — Pale Beardtongue (Penstemon pallidus) — patch of white-flowered stems in grasses.

Pale Beardtongue (Penstemon pallidus): white tubular flowers with yellow throat hairs. — Pale Beardtongue (Penstemon pallidus) — white tubular flowers with yellow throat hairs.

Pale Beardtongue (Penstemon pallidus): white-flowered stems in an open meadow. — Pale Beardtongue (Penstemon pallidus) — white-flowered stems in an open meadow.

Pale Beardtongue (Penstemon pallidus): flowering colony across a grassy field. — Pale Beardtongue (Penstemon pallidus) — flowering colony across a grassy field.

Pale Beardtongue (Penstemon pallidus): white flowers along a slender upright stem. — Pale Beardtongue (Penstemon pallidus) — white flowers along a slender upright stem.

Pale Beardtongue (Penstemon pallidus): distant flowering stems in meadow vegetation. — Pale Beardtongue (Penstemon pallidus) — distant flowering stems in meadow vegetation.

Pale Beardtongue (Penstemon pallidus): close view of white flower lips and yellow throat. — Pale Beardtongue (Penstemon pallidus) — close view of white flower lips and yellow throat.

Pale Beardtongue (Penstemon pallidus): white flowers above opposite leaves. — Pale Beardtongue (Penstemon pallidus) — white flowers above opposite leaves.

Pale Beardtongue (Penstemon pallidus): flowering stems among green grasses. — Pale Beardtongue (Penstemon pallidus) — flowering stems among green grasses.

Pale Beardtongue (Penstemon pallidus): upright white-flowered stem against the sky. — Pale Beardtongue (Penstemon pallidus) — upright white-flowered stem against the sky.

Pale Beardtongue (Penstemon pallidus): flowering plant within a broad meadow. — Pale Beardtongue (Penstemon pallidus) — flowering plant within a broad meadow.

Pale Beardtongue (Penstemon pallidus): white flower clusters along a reddish stem. — Pale Beardtongue (Penstemon pallidus) — white flower clusters along a reddish stem.

Pale Beardtongue (Penstemon pallidus): wide view of the meadow growing site. — Pale Beardtongue (Penstemon pallidus) — wide view of the meadow growing site.

Pale Beardtongue (Penstemon pallidus): pale flowers and buds above narrow leaves. — Pale Beardtongue (Penstemon pallidus) — pale flowers and buds above narrow leaves.

Range & sightings

North-central and eastern United States.

Observation maps show submitted records, not every place the plant occurs. Follow local access rules when visiting a site.

Keep learning

Practice recognizing Pale Beardtongue, then explore other flowers in the guide.

Sources & further reading

Original photographs: Where’s Wildlife. Identification and distribution references:

References checked October 2026. Pronunciations are approximate guides; botanical Latin pronunciation varies.