Smooth Beardtongue Pollen Color, Bloom Season and Bee Forage

Visual guideSmooth Beardtongue pollen

Photo: Mason Brock ( Masebrock ) · Public domain

Plant Facts

SeasonSpring to Summer

USDA Zone4 - 8

Plant TypeWildflower

ForagePollen and nectar

Pollen ValueLow

Nectar ValueMedium

Color FamilyYellow and gold

Scientific NamePenstemon calycosus

Common NamesSmooth beardtongue, Long-sepal beardtongue

Native RegionsEastern and central United States

Range StatusNative to the east-central United States.

Color ConfidenceModerate

Color MethodA species-level pollen-library record describes green and tan pollen; two approximate swatches show the documented range.

Reviewed2026-10-11

Quick Answer

Smooth Beardtongue pollen is shown in this guide as a yellow and gold tone. It is listed as wildflower, associated with spring to summer bloom timing, USDA zone 4 - 8, and pollen and nectar forage value.

Pollen Color Notes

The visual color shown for Smooth Beardtongue is grouped broadly with yellow and gold pollen tones. It is intended for comparison and identification support, not as a laboratory measurement.

Pollen color is highly variable. Lighting, pollen age, moisture, collection method, cultivar, and local growing conditions can all change how pollen appears. Use this as general visual guidance, not a scientific color standard or guaranteed field match.

Bloom, Zone, and Forage Context

Smooth Beardtongue is listed for spring to summer. The record lists USDA zone 4 - 8; hardiness zones are planning context, not a precise flowering calendar. Approximate bloom months in the supplemental notes: May, June.

Its forage type is pollen and nectar, with pollen value marked as low and nectar value marked as medium. Tubular beardtongue flowers provide pollen and nectar, particularly to native bees; access varies by bee size and tongue length.

Identification Notes

Smooth beardtongue has opposite leaves and loose clusters of tubular lavender to purple flowers with a hairy sterile stamen inside the corolla.

Flower color note: Lavender to purple. Flower color and pollen color may differ.

Related by Similar Color

Blackhaw Viburnum - Orange and amber Broad Bean - Yellow and gold Bell Heath - Yellow and gold Blackberry - Orange and amber Alsike Clover - Orange and amber Common Snowberry - Orange and amber

Related by Season

Allium - Spring to Summer Almond - Spring to Summer Alsike Clover - Spring to Summer American Bittersweet - Spring to Summer American Persimmon - Spring to Summer Black Gum - Spring to Summer

Related by Plant Type

Alfalfa - Wildflower Aster - Wildflower Balsam - Wildflower Bee Balm - Wildflower Bindweed - Wildflower Bird's-Foot Trefoil - Wildflower

Related by USDA Zone

Adam's Needle - Zone 4 - 10 Alder - Zone 2 - 7 Allium - Zone 3 - 9 Almond - Zone 4 - 8 Alsike Clover - Zone 3 - 8 American Basswood - Zone 3 - 8

Related by Bee Forage

Adam's Needle - Pollen and nectar Alfalfa - Pollen and nectar Allium - Pollen and nectar Almond - Pollen and nectar Alsike Clover - Pollen and nectar American Basswood - Pollen and nectar

Sources

USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map
United States Department of Agriculture / reviewed 2026-07-12
USDA hardiness zone context USDA PLANTS Database
United States Department of Agriculture / reviewed 2026-07-12
scientific name, common name, distribution context, plant classification The Anther's Promise pollen library
The Anther's Promise / reviewed 2026-10-11
pollen color category, bloom period, pollen morphology, bee resource context Selecting Plants for Pollinators regional guides
Pollinator Partnership / reviewed 2026-10-11
North American regional plant selection, native range context, bloom timing, pollinator value Wikipedia and Wikimedia Commons
Wikimedia Foundation contributors / reviewed 2026-07-12
plant image, image credit link