Also known as foxglove beardtongue for its resemblance to the English garden plant. Penstemons are called beardtongues because of the tiny hairs on the flowers’ stamen–a little hairy “tongue” to support pollinators.

With ample stalked clusters of pretty white tubular flowers that bloom spring to summer, it attracts bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds in droves. Additionally, the seeds provide food for songbirds in late summer and fall. AND this plant is a host plant to the Baltimore checkerspot, Edith’s checkerspot, Chalcedon checkerspot, and the common buckeye! We are not the only ones who love this hardy and reliable native! 

Penstemon digitalis is quite unfussy and adaptable and, once established, can be tolerant of both flood and drought. What a plant! While not a highly aggressive spreader, it will often propagate through self-seeding. Deadheading will help promote new flower growth and ensures the plant flowers for longer. (Remove whole flower spikes as the blooms fade and new ones will grow from the base.) With its tall and showy blooms, it has great vertical interest. Use it in borders, in pollinator gardens, on the edge of rain gardens, or in meadow landscapes. This incredibly steadfast and resilient native plant is going to be a new favorite. 

• Type: NATIVE perennial 

• USDA Growing Zones: 3-8

• Sun Exposure: Full sun

• Height: 3-5' tall

• Width: 2' wide

• Soil Needs: Thrives in well drained soils

Also find several other varieties of penstemon at Painter this spring:

• Penstemon digitalis 'Husker Red'

  NATIVAR; with red-stemmed spikes of showy white tubular flowers spring-summer

  
  

• Penstemon pinifolius Pineleaf Beardtongue

  Bright red-orange tubular blooms and needle-like foliage; Native to Arizona and New Mexico, thrives in coarse, sandy, sharp-draining soil

  
  

• Penstemon smallii Small's Beardtongue

  NATIVE perennial with long-blooming tubular purple summer flowers; basal foliage stays evergreen

• Penstemon barbatus 'Rock Candy® Blue'

  1’ tall and wide, compact cultivar jam-packed with lavender-blue bell-shaped blooms

  
  

• Penstemon 'Flock of Flamingos'

  Masses of flamboyant, multi-hued pink flowers 

• Penstemon 'Quartz® Amethyst'

  Generous spikes of soft lavender flowers with white striped throats attract bees

  
  

• Penstemon 'Quartz® Red'

  2’ tall and wide, summer spires of vivid red-orange trumpets, throats striped with white

  
  

• Penstemon ' Harlequin™ Magenta'

  Upright, compact, and free flowering; showy spires of large magenta flowers bloom summer through fall

  
  

• Penstemon 'Onyx and Pearls'

  Elegant near-black foliage topped with soft lavender blooms in summer, provides height and drama