Life Span
Perennial
  
Perennial
  
Type
Flowering Plants
  
Herbaceous Perennial
  
Origin
North-Central United States, Central United States, Western United States, Texas
  
China, Japan, Korea
  
Types
Blue Toadflax, Old-Field Toadflax
  
Not Available
  
Habitat
Cultivated Beds
  
Dappled Shade, meadows, Shady Edge, Sunny Edge, Woodland Garden
  
USDA Hardiness Zone
3-9
  
5-9
  
AHS Heat Zone
9-1
  
9-4
  
Sunset Zone
1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 10
  
2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
  
Habit
Upright/Erect
  
Clump-Forming
  
Plant Size
  
  
Plant Color
  
  
Flower Color
Pink, Light Blue, Lavender
  
Light Yellow, Ivory
  
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
  
Bicolor
  
Fruit Color
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Leaf Color in Spring
Light Green, Blue Green, Gray Green
  
Green
  
Leaf Color in Summer
Blue Green, Gray Green
  
Green
  
Leaf Color in Fall
Blue Green, Gray Green
  
Green
  
Leaf Color in Winter
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Shape
  
  
Leaf Shape
Oval to egg shaped
  
Ovate
  
Thorns
No
  
No
  
Plant Season
Spring, Summer
  
Spring, Summer, Fall
  
Growing Conditions
  
  
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
  
Partial shade, Full Shade
  
Growth Rate
Fast
  
Fast
  
Type of Soil
Clay, Loam
  
Clay, Loam, Sand
  
The pH of Soil
Neutral, Alkaline
  
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
  
Soil Drainage
Well drained
  
Poorly Drained
  
Bloom Time
Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer
  
Early Spring, Late Winter
  
Repeat Bloomer
No
  
No
  
Tolerances
Drought
  
Wet Site
  
Where to Plant?
Ground
  
Container, Ground, Pot
  
How to Plant?
Cuttings, Divison, Seedlings
  
Divison, Seedlings
  
Plant Maintenance
Medium
  
Medium
  
Watering Plants
  
  
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs, Do Not over Water
  
Water once every two or three weeks
  
In Summer
Lots of watering
  
Lots of watering
  
In Spring
Moderate
  
Moderate
  
In Winter
Average Water
  
Average Water
  
Soil
  
  
Soil pH
Neutral, Alkaline
  
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
  
Soil Type
Clay, Loam
  
Clay, Loam, Sand
  
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
  
Poorly Drained
  
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
  
Partial shade, Full Shade
  
Pruning
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
  
Remove the old foliage
  
Fertilizers
use all-purpose fertilizers
  
Use a fertilizer ratio of 16-4-8
  
Pests and Diseases
Foliar disease, Root rot, Spider mites
  
No serious insect or disease problems
  
Plant Tolerance
Drought
  
Drought
  
Flowers
Showy
  
Showy
  
Flower Petal Number
Single
  
Not Available
  
Fruits
  
  
Showy Fruit
No
  
No
  
Edible Fruit
No
  
No
  
Fragrance
  
  
Fragrant Flower
No
  
Yes
  
Fragrant Fruit
No
  
No
  
Fragrant Leaf
No
  
No
  
Fragrant Bark/Stem
No
  
No
  
Showy Foliage
Yes
  
Yes
  
Showy Bark
No
  
No
  
Foliage Texture
Medium
  
Bold
  
Foliage Sheen
Matte
  
Glossy
  
Evergreen
No
  
No
  
Invasive
No
  
Sometimes
  
Self-Sowing
Yes
  
No
  
Attracts
Bumblebees
  
Not Available
  
Allergy
Depression, High blood cholestrol, Pain
  
no allergic reactions
  
Uses
  
  
Aesthetic Uses
Showy Purposes
  
Bog Garden, Showy Purposes
  
Beauty Benefits
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Edible Uses
No
  
Yes
  
Environmental Uses
Air purification
  
Air purification
  
Plant Benefits
  
  
Medicinal Uses
Analgesic, Febrifuge, Stomachic
  
Antiasthamatic, Antispasmodic, Expectorant, Poultice
  
Part of Plant Used
Leaves, Root
  
Flowers, Stem
  
Other Uses
Not Available
  
Can be boiled and seasoned, pickled, Used as umbrellas by Japanese children, Used as walking sticks, Used like rhubarb
  
Used As Indoor Plant
No
  
No
  
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
  
Yes
  
Garden Design
Rock Garden / Wall, Wildflower
  
Bog Garden, Container, Feature Plant, Water Gardens
  
Botanical Name
PENSTEMON grandiflorus
  
PETASITES japonicus
  
Common Name
Large Beardtongue, Shell-leaf Penstemon, Wild Snapdragon
  
Giant Butterbur, Japanese Butterbur
  
In Hindi
Wild Snapdragon
  
Giant Butterbur
  
In German
Wilde Snapdragon
  
Riesen Pestwurz
  
In French
Snapdragon sauvage
  
géant Butterbur
  
In Spanish
Salvaje Snapdragon
  
gigante petasita
  
In Greek
άγρια Snapdragon
  
Giant Butterbur
  
In Portuguese
Selvagem Snapdragon
  
Carrapicho gigante
  
In Polish
Dziki Snapdragon
  
Giant Lepiężnik
  
In Latin
Phlox Ferae
  
Giant Butterbur
  
Kingdom
Plantae
  
Plantae
  
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
  
Magnoliophyta
  
Class
Magnoliopsida
  
Magnoliopsida
  
Order
Scrophulariales
  
Asterales
  
Family
Scrophulariaceae
  
Asteraceae
  
Genus
Penstemon
  
Petasites
  
Clade
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
  
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
  
Tribe
Not Available
  
Senecioneae
  
Subfamily
Scrophularioideae
  
Asteroideae
  
Number of Species
Not Available
  
Not Available