Wisconsin Native Beardtongues
One of the showiest of spring flowers are the Beartongues, members of the Penstemon family. While
they bloom time is relatively short, 2 to 3 weeks in May or June, these plants offer beautiful
structure and succulent foliage.
Beardtongues fill a critical role, providing pollen and nectar at a time when resources are dwindling
at the end of spring. The large tubular flowers, up to 2 inches in length, are popular with hummingbirds
and bees. Beardtongues are visited by a number of bee species including sweat bees, leafcutter bees, and
as well as being frequented by newly hatched bumble bees.
Easy care and low maintenance
Good for cut flowers
Attracts hummingbirds and other pollinators
Tolerates dry soil
Select a site with full sun and well-drained soil. Choose a site where the plants will have plenty of room.
Beardtongues don’t like to be crowded.
The soil for beardtongue must drain very well. These plants are prairie natives and prefer rocky or sandy
lean soil types over rich garden loam. It’s okay to amend the soil with compost, but avoid manure applications.
Penstemons are easy to start from seed. Seeds may germinate better after a period of aging, mimicking their
conditions in the wild, so you can store seed for several years before planting. If you sow the seeds in the
garden, do so in autumn, to allow a natural stratification period. For more information on seed
stratification, read, Seed
Stratification.
can be grown from tip cuttings. Tip cuttings are cuttings that are taken from the ends of the stems and include
the growing tip. The growing tip is the actively growing part of the stem. Take your cutting from late spring to
fall from stems that are not blooming. They only need to be 2 to 3 inches long. Remove the leaves from the
bottom inch or less. Dip the cut end in some rooting hormone and then gently press the cuttings into a container
that is filled with soil. The cutting should be buried up to its first set of leaves. For more information on rooting
hormones, read, Rooting
Hormones.
Beardtongue Catalog
Large Beardtongue
Height: 2-4 feet
Bloom Time: Late spring
Sun: Full Sun
Zones: 3-9
Soil: Loam, Sand
Moisture: Dry
Color: Lavender
Hairy Beardtongue
Height: 18 inches
Bloom Time: Late spring
Sun: Full Sun,Part Sun
Zones: 3-9
Soil : Loam, Clay, Sand
Moisture: Dry, Medium, Moist
Color: Purple
Calico Beardtongue
Height: 1-2 feet
Bloom Time: Late Spring
Sun: Full Sun,Part Sun
Zones: 5-8
Soil: Loam
Moisture: Medium, Moist
Color: Pink
Pale Beardtongue
Height: 18-30 inches
Bloom Time: Late spring
Sun: Full Sun,Part Sun
Zones: 3-8
Soil: Loam
Moisture: Dry, Medium
Color: White
Showy Beardtongue
Height: 1-2 feet
Bloom Time: Late Spring
Sun: Full Sun
Zones: 5-8
Soil: Loam
Moisture: Dry, Medium
Color: Pink, White, Violet
Slender Beardtongue
Height: 2 feet
Bloom Time: Late Spring
Sun: Full Sun,Part Sun
Zones: 3-8
Soil: Loam
Moisture: Dry, Medium
Color: Purple
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