Identifying a Perennial with Blue and Pink Flowers in Leaf Axils

Identifying a Perennial with Blue and Pink Flowers in Leaf Axils

An experienced New England gardener described a 1–2 ft perennial with alternate, hairy, red-freckled stems; simple, pointed, untoothed leaves with a prominent central vein; and complex flowers in leaf axils that bloom sequentially, shifting from blue to pink with age. Five prominent anthers are blue-tipped with pink. Blooms late June–July in Massachusetts. Not mertensia, pulmonaria, or common nursery plants.

Possible Families

The description suggests Scrophulariaceae (figwort family) – genera like Penstemon (but usually opposite leaves), Pedicularis (lousewort), or Mimulus (monkeyflower). The sequential axillary blooming and color shift are distinctive.

Recommendation

Email a photo to viktoria@glenbrookplants.com. A picture is essential for this level of detail. Include close-ups of flowers, leaves, stem freckles, and the whole plant habit.