by High Country Gardens
The Beardtongue family, also known by their latin genus Penstemon, have a passionate following of gardeners on both sides of the Atlantic. Europeans, especially the English have been breeding and growing lots of very showy, but not cold hardy Penstemon hybrids for many years. And here in America, the genus has had a small but growing group of enthusiasts, myself included, who are fondly known as “Penstemaniacs.”
Penstemania is especially strong in the western US, where the native western Penstemon are the showiest and most spectacular members of this wildflower group.
Ideal Growing Conditions for Penstemon
The key to growing the Beardtongues is not giving them too much—too much water, too much fertilizer and too much attention are not appreciated by this group of native plants.
In nature, Penstemon are pioneer plants that are some of the first wildflowers to move into places with disturbed soils and areas burned by fire. They can take the difficult dry growing conditions necessary for them to be the plants that first colonize an area. And they are strong re-seeders so they can move into new territory. They then gradually give way to other wildflowers as the soil and growing conditions improve.
Here are a few helpful tips to remember when bringing Beadtongues into your gardens:
- These plants love a new garden where the soil has been turned and lightly prepared for planting with organic fertilizers (simulating disturbed soil).
- They establish quickly and the amount and frequency of watering needs to be reduced after about 8 to 10 weeks (creating dry conditions).
- They need “elbow room”, maximum sun, heat and don’t like to be crowded by other plants.
- And they love gravel mulch, like you’d find covering the bare earth in disturbed soils, to help them establish their roots more quickly and re-seed themselves.
After growing these beauties in my gardens for 30 years, I have observed that the Penstemon seedlings that establish themselves from seed produced by the original transplants are the best and most vigorous plants.
Favorite Penstemon Varieties
With over 300 recognized species and subspecies of Penstemon, there are a lot to choose from.
Some the best garden varieties include the orange, scarlet and yellow flowered Pineleaf Beardtongue (Penstemon pinifolius and selections), the award-winning Penstemon mexicali 'Pike's Peak Purple' (Pike's Peak Purple Hybrid Beardtongue), the light-pink Palmer's Pink Wild Snapdragon (Penstemon palmeri) and the deep-pink flowered Penstemon pseudospectabilis Coconino County (Coconino County Desert Beardtongue).
![FlowerKisser™ Citrus Surprise Penstemon]()
Penstemon pinifolius ‚FlowerKisser® Citrus Surprise‚ WWGPIN (Beardtongue) is a unique light-orange-flowering cultivar of this favorite native perennial. Pineleaf Penstem...
Learn MoreFlowerKisser® Citrus Surprise Penstemon 'FlowerKisser® Citrus Surprise' Beardtongue Penstemon pinifolius 'WWGPIN'$10.99Per Plant - 2.5" PotPenstemon pinifolius 'FlowerKisser® Citrus Surprise' WWGPIN (Beardtongue) is a unique light-orange-flowering cultivar of this favorite native perennial. Pineleaf Penstemon features handsome evergreen foliage that grows in a tidy mound. Hummingbirds love to pollinate the nectar-rich flowers. It's easy-to-grow, requiring only plentiful sun, a lean well drained soil. This resilient, drought-tolerant perennial needs only occasional deep soakings in dry weather. A High Country Gardens Introduction. Exclusive.![Compact Pineleaf Beardtongue, Penstemon pinifolius Compactum]()
Compactum is hands down one of the very best native wildflowers for water-wise gardens. This tiny shrub has a profusion of bright scarlet flowers in late spring and tidy, tight growi...
Learn MoreCompact Pineleaf Penstemon Compact Pineleaf Beardtongue Penstemon pinifolius CompactumAs low as $12.99 Sale $8.99Per Plant - 5" Deep PotCompactum is hands down one of the very best native wildflowers for water-wise gardens. This tiny shrub has a profusion of bright scarlet flowers in late spring and tidy, tight growing branches of evergreen pine needle-like leaves. Perfect for borders or accenting larger perennials. Drought resistant/drought tolerant plant (xeric).![Electric Blue Penstemon, Penstemon heterophyllus Electric Blue, Foothills Beardtongue]()
Penstemon heterophyllus Electric Blue is a selected form of the Foothills Beardtongue, a small growing evergreen shrub from California, that blooms in late spring with a memorable d...
Learn MoreElectric Blue Penstemon Electric Blue Foothills Beardtongue Penstemon heterophyllus Electric BlueAs low as $11.99Per Plant - 5" Deep PotPenstemon heterophyllus Electric Blue is a selected form of the Foothills Beardtongue, a small growing evergreen shrub from California, that blooms in late spring with a memorable display of intensely blue flowers.![Coconino County Desert Beardtongue, Penstemon pseudospectabilis Coconino County, photo courtesy of Emmis Oure]()
Exclusive. Coconino County desert beardtongue is an incredible bloomer with numerous spikes of intensely deep pink tubular flowers in late spring. A willing re-seeder, it spreads ge...
Learn MoreCoconino County Desert Penstemon Coconino County Desert Beardtongue Penstemon pseudospectabilis Coconino CountyAs low as $11.99Per Plant - 5" Deep PotExclusive. Coconino County desert beardtongue is an incredible bloomer with numerous spikes of intensely deep pink tubular flowers in late spring. A willing re-seeder, it spreads gently, helping to fill in difficult-to-plant areas. Drought resistant/drought tolerant plant (xeric).![Yellow Pineleaf Beardtongue, Penstemon pinifolius Mersea Yellow]()
Penstemon pinifolius Mersea Yellow (Yellow Pineleaf Beardtongue) is an English selection of our native pineleaf Penstemon grown for its bright yellow tubular flowers that cover the p...
Learn MoreYellow Pineleaf Penstemon Yellow Pineleaf Beardtongue Penstemon pinifolius Mersea YellowAs low as $11.99 Sale $8.99Per Plant - 5" Deep PotPenstemon pinifolius Mersea Yellow (Yellow Pineleaf Beardtongue) is an English selection of our native pineleaf Penstemon grown for its bright yellow tubular flowers that cover the plant in late spring/early summer. This small shrub has attractive evergreen, pine-needle like foliage and a tidy mounding for. Drought resistant/drought tolerant plant (xeric). 12" tall x 15" wide![Orange Penstemon pinifolius Luminous, Penstemon pinifolius, Luminous Pineleaf Beardtongue]()
This is an exceptional small growing, evergreen plant that covers itself with hundreds of bright light orange, yellow throated flowers in late spring-early summer. A western native p...
Learn MoreLuminous Pineleaf Penstemon Luminous Pineleaf Beardtongue Penstemon pinifolius LuminousAs low as $12.99 Sale $11.69Per Plant - 5" Deep PotThis is an exceptional small growing, evergreen plant that covers itself with hundreds of bright light orange, yellow throated flowers in late spring-early summer. A western native perennial, Luminous Pineleaf Beardtongue thrives in well-drained soils with plenty of sunlight. High Country Gardens 2016 Plant of the Year, 2016 Green Thumb Award Winner.![Pink and White Penstemon mexicali Red Rocks, Penstemon mexicali Red Rocks, Red Rocks Hybrid Beardtongue]()
Penstemon Red Rocks (Beardtongue) is a superb hybrid variety that blooms most of the summer with large rose-pink flowers. The plants are vigorous and have attractive glossy green fol...
Learn MoreRed Rocks Penstemon Red Rocks Hybrid Beardtongue Penstemon mexicali Red Rocks$10.99 Sale $9.89Sale Price I Save 10%Per Plant - 5" Deep PotPenstemon Red Rocks (Beardtongue) is a superb hybrid variety that blooms most of the summer with large rose-pink flowers. The plants are vigorous and have attractive glossy green foliage. A 1999 Plant Select winner. Drought resistant/drought tolerant plant (xeric).![Blanca Peak™ Rocky Mountain Beard Tongue, Penstemon strictus ‘WWG06’]()
Blanca Peak™ White Penstemon (Penstemon strictus) is an award-winning white-flowered selection of our native Rocky Mountain Penstemon. Large, tubular flowers are a favorite nectar ...
Learn MoreBlanca Peak™ Rocky Mountain Penstemon Blanca Peak™ Rocky Mountain Beardtongue Penstemon strictus 'WWG06'$12.99 Sale $11.69Sale Price I Save 10%Per Plant - 5" Deep PotBlanca Peak™ White Penstemon (Penstemon strictus) is an award-winning white-flowered selection of our native Rocky Mountain Penstemon. Large, tubular flowers are a favorite nectar source for bumblebees. Plant this easy-to-grow beardtongue for a sturdy, long-lived late-spring bloomer in your xeriscape. This beauty thrives in most well-drained soil with full sun exposure. A 2021 Plant Select® Winner. A High Country Gardens Introduction.
Text and Photos by Founder and Chief Horticulturist David Salman.
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![FlowerKisser™ Citrus Surprise Penstemon]()
Penstemon pinifolius ‚FlowerKisser® Citrus Surprise‚ WWGPIN (Beardtongue) is a unique light-orange-flowering cultivar of this favorite native perennial. Pineleaf Penstem...
Learn MoreFlowerKisser® Citrus Surprise Penstemon 'FlowerKisser® Citrus Surprise' Beardtongue Penstemon pinifolius 'WWGPIN'$10.99Per Plant - 2.5" PotPenstemon pinifolius 'FlowerKisser® Citrus Surprise' WWGPIN (Beardtongue) is a unique light-orange-flowering cultivar of this favorite native perennial. Pineleaf Penstemon features handsome evergreen foliage that grows in a tidy mound. Hummingbirds love to pollinate the nectar-rich flowers. It's easy-to-grow, requiring only plentiful sun, a lean well drained soil. This resilient, drought-tolerant perennial needs only occasional deep soakings in dry weather. A High Country Gardens Introduction. Exclusive.![Compact Pineleaf Beardtongue, Penstemon pinifolius Compactum]()
Compactum is hands down one of the very best native wildflowers for water-wise gardens. This tiny shrub has a profusion of bright scarlet flowers in late spring and tidy, tight growi...
Learn MoreCompact Pineleaf Penstemon Compact Pineleaf Beardtongue Penstemon pinifolius CompactumAs low as $12.99 Sale $8.99Per Plant - 5" Deep PotCompactum is hands down one of the very best native wildflowers for water-wise gardens. This tiny shrub has a profusion of bright scarlet flowers in late spring and tidy, tight growing branches of evergreen pine needle-like leaves. Perfect for borders or accenting larger perennials. Drought resistant/drought tolerant plant (xeric).![Electric Blue Penstemon, Penstemon heterophyllus Electric Blue, Foothills Beardtongue]()
Penstemon heterophyllus Electric Blue is a selected form of the Foothills Beardtongue, a small growing evergreen shrub from California, that blooms in late spring with a memorable d...
Learn MoreElectric Blue Penstemon Electric Blue Foothills Beardtongue Penstemon heterophyllus Electric BlueAs low as $11.99Per Plant - 5" Deep PotPenstemon heterophyllus Electric Blue is a selected form of the Foothills Beardtongue, a small growing evergreen shrub from California, that blooms in late spring with a memorable display of intensely blue flowers.![Coconino County Desert Beardtongue, Penstemon pseudospectabilis Coconino County, photo courtesy of Emmis Oure]()
Exclusive. Coconino County desert beardtongue is an incredible bloomer with numerous spikes of intensely deep pink tubular flowers in late spring. A willing re-seeder, it spreads ge...
Learn MoreCoconino County Desert Penstemon Coconino County Desert Beardtongue Penstemon pseudospectabilis Coconino CountyAs low as $11.99Per Plant - 5" Deep PotExclusive. Coconino County desert beardtongue is an incredible bloomer with numerous spikes of intensely deep pink tubular flowers in late spring. A willing re-seeder, it spreads gently, helping to fill in difficult-to-plant areas. Drought resistant/drought tolerant plant (xeric).