One of the showiest native penstemons, Beardtongue can reach heights of three feet with stunning lavender-pink flowers. While the bloom time is relatively short, 2 - 3 weeks in May or June, the plant offers beautiful vertical structure and silvery blue-green …
One of the showiest native penstemons, Beardtongue can reach heights of three feet with stunning lavender-pink flowers. While the bloom time is relatively short, 2-3 weeks in May or June, the plant offers beautiful vertical structure and silvery blue-green succulent foliage, making it a versatile player in the garden or naturalized setting. The large tubular flowers, up to two inches in length, are popular with hummingbirds and bees. Long-tongued pollinators visit the unique flowers for nectar including mason bees and bumble bees, as well as pollen seeking halictid bees. As a host plant, Beardtongue is associated with the Arachne Checkerspot (Poladryas arachne).
Endangered in some states, Penstemon grandiflorus is more common in the dry sand and gravel soils of the northern Great Plains and appears less frequently further south. Not often seen in the wild, it prefers full sun and requires excellent drainage - it will not grow well in clay.
Native plants can be grown outside of their native range in the appropriate growing conditions. This map shows the native range, as well as the introduced range, of this species.
Plant Shipping Rates: for plant orders up to $50 the shipping amount is $9.95. For plant orders from $50.01 and over, the shipping rate is 20% of the total plant cost.
Fall plant-shipping begins on September 9, 2024. The last day to order your plants for fall shipment is September 29.
During checkout, you will be asked to choose a Shipping Week for your plant delivery, from the dates that are available. The week that you choose will be included in your order confirmation email. When your plants ship you will receive an email that includes your tracking information.
Once the flowers are spent, should this be cut back?
Oftentimes gardeners will cut-back perennials after they bloom, to put more energy into the perennial root system. And/or to neaten up the appearance. If the plants are leaning or falling over, or just looking a bit rough, cutting back will not harm the plant. Cutting off just below the spent blooms is best and leaves plant material that serves a purpose thru its ecosystem services, such as supporting the larvae of butterflies, and moths. Penstemon plants (the leaves) are host plants for Checkerspot butterflies. Also, if cutback, the plants will not be able to set seed.
If you are referring to deadheading, removing spent blooms in order to prolong the bloom period, the answer is 'No,' removing spent blooms will not prolong the bloom period on Penstemon grandiflorus.
Can this be growing in loam soil – may be a bit slower draining?
Beardtongue (Penstemon grandiflorus) is a specialist species, found growing naturally in sand prairies, sand/gravel hills and sandy plains. We cannot recommend it for loam soils. That doesn't mean that it absolutely would not work, as so much depends on the details of the soil, but it is unlikely to be very successful. Also, plants that strongly prefer a xeric environment will flop over in richer soils.
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