Beautiful bee butts abound when there are penstemons in the garden – their white, tubular flowers are attractive to many types of pollinators, but their interactions with bees are especially charming. Flowers are followed by attractive seed heads that can remain up through the winter for visual interest. Like most penstemons, this species has an evergreen basal rosette.
Beardtongue is a great drought-tolerant option for open sunny spaces, though you might also find its adorable seedlings popping up throughout your garden, including some unexpectedly shady spaces.
This offering of Beardtongue is collected from seedlings of Penstemon d. ‘Husker Red Improved’ found in Catalpa Court. These plants have held onto most of their red color (especially in the fall), but some variability is to be expected.
Conditions: Full sun; well-drained soilsSize: 3’ - 5’ tall in bloom, 1’ - 2’ wide
Zone: 3 – 8
Wildlife Value: Flowers support bumblebees and several pollen specialist bees; larval host for a few species of butterflies and moths
Photo: Dave Korbonits