Hairy Beardtongue
A versatile native for garden and landscape, this diminutive penstemon is very tough and adaptable to a range of well-drained soils, in full sun and partial shade. Typically found in rocky fields, bluffs, or open woods and drier sites, it does well in average clay or any medium garden soil, as well…
| Soil Type | Loam, Sand |
|---|---|
| Soil Moisture | Dry, Medium |
| Sun Exposure | Full Sun, Partial |
| Height | 1' – 2' |
| Bloom Color | Lavender, Pink |
| Bloom Time | May, June |
| Spacing | 1' |
| Hardiness Zones | 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 |
| Root Type | Rhizome |
| Benefits | Butterflies, Pollinators, Hummingbirds, Host Plant, Deer Resistant |
A versatile native for garden and landscape, this diminutive penstemon is very tough and adaptable to a range of well-drained soils, in full sun and partial shade. Typically found in rocky fields, bluffs, or open woods and drier sites, it does well in average clay or any medium garden soil, as well.
Hairy Beardtongue is low growing, only 1 – 2 feet tall, with woolly stems that are sometimes reddish in color. In early summer, airy clusters of delicate tubular flowers appear on the top half of the plant in various shades of lavender. The leaves turn a beautiful red in the fall.
The blooms attract a range of pollinators as well as hummingbirds. Penstemon hirsutus is a larval host plant for several checkerspot butterflies, including the Baltimore Checkerspot, Arachne Checkerspot, and the Chalcedon Checkerspot.
