"Small's Beardtongue" is a very easy plant to grow, native mainly to the mountains of North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Tennessee.  It grows in light shade in well-drained woodlands.
In the garden, Penstemon smallii enjoys full sun to part shade at the front of the perennial border or in the rock garden.  The pink to deep magenta tubular flowers with purple-striped white throats bloom from May through to June.  Purple stems bear purple-veined leaves up to 15cm long, making it an unusual cut flower. Well-drained average to dry soil is the preference.    Ultimate height of this clump-forming plant is 45-60cm.