Hairy beardtongue is a compact, flowering, herbaceous perennial in the plantain family (Plantaginaceae) native to the dry woods and rocky fields of eastern Canada and the United States, but not to North Carolina and states south to Florida. The plant is characterized by its erect, hairy stems, and usually, several stems can be found growing from the same rhizome. The plant boasts open, stalked clusters of lavender to violet, trumpet-shaped flowers with whitish lips that blossom from May to July. The Beardtongues are a very large, taxonomically complex group and separating the species is often difficult. The hirsutus species is readily distinguished, however, by the downy nature of the stem. The common and scientific names refer to the tufted sterile stamen. Hairy beardtongue does best in a thin, well-drained, usually dry soil and will tolerate full sun to partial shade. If grown in the garden, you can use mulch to control weeds, and cut the spent flower stems back after blooming. It does self-seed but does not spread aggressively. This plant is a particularly valuable source of nectar for bumble bees. Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems: No significant problems
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day) | Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Loam (Silt); Shallow Rocky
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Occasionally Dry
Available space
Less than 12 inches
Growth rate
Rapid
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Dense; Erect; Multi-stemmed
Foliage
Deciduous
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Opposite
Leaf shape
Lanceolate; Oblong
Leaf margin
Entire
Leaf feel
Velvety
Leaf size
1-3 inches long, < 1 inch wide
Hairs present
Yes
Leaf detail
Opposite, stemless lance-shaped leaves with toothed margins.
Fall color
Red/Burgundy
Flower color
Purple/Lavender; White
Flower shape
Trumpet; Tubular
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
Open, stalked clusters of lavender to violet, trumpet-shaped, slender flowers with whitish lips. The flowers are slender, about an inch long and the mouth is nearly closed by the arched base of the lower lip.
Bloom time
Spring; Summer
Fruit type
Capsule
Stem detail
Erect, usually several, puberulent above, glabrous or often villous below
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Native
Origin
Eastern Canada and the United States south to Virginia.