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).
![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'$10.99 Sale $10.44Sale Price I Save 5%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.Learn More![SteppeSuns® Sunset Glow Beard Tongue, Penstemon pinifolius ‘P019S', orange flowers]()
A soft orange-flowered selection of pineleaf beardtongue, SteppeSuns® Sunset Glow Penstemon (Penstemon pinifolius) is a native cultivar that starts flowering in late spring and attr...
Learn MoreSteppeSuns® Sunset Glow Penstemon SteppeSuns® Sunset Glow Beardtongue Penstemon pinifolius 'P019S'$8.99 Sale $8.54Sale Price I Save 5%Per Plant - 2.5" PotA soft orange-flowered selection of pineleaf beardtongue, SteppeSuns® Sunset Glow Penstemon (Penstemon pinifolius) is a native cultivar that starts flowering in late spring and attracts numerous pollinators and hummingbirds. Reminiscent of Colorado summer sunsets, its long-lasting blooms add a warm glow to dry area gardens. Finely textured evergreen foliage forms a compact mound for year-round interest.Learn More![Red Penstemon eatonii Richfield Strain]()
24-36" tall x 15" wide. The Richfield form of Eaton's Beardtongue was selected for its overall vigor and flower production. It blooms in early to mid-spring blooming with tall spikes...
Learn MoreFirecracker Penstemon Richfield Strain Richfield Strain Firecracker Beardtongue Penstemon eatonii Richfield StrainAs low as $8.49 Sale $8.07Per Plant - 2.5" Pot24-36" tall x 15" wide. The Richfield form of Eaton's Beardtongue was selected for its overall vigor and flower production. It blooms in early to mid-spring blooming with tall spikes of brilliant red flowers. Drought resistant/drought tolerant plant (xeric).Learn More![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 $9.49 Sale $9.02Per Plant - 2.5" 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. .Learn More![Purple Penstemon mexicali Pike's Peak Purple, Penstemon mexicali Pike's Peak Purple, Pike's Peak Purple hybrid Beardtongue]()
Pikes Peak Purple is a superb hybrid variety that blooms most of the summer with large concord grape-purple flowers. The plants are vigorous and have attractive glossy green foliage....
Learn MorePike's Peak Purple Penstemon Pike's Peak Purple hybrid Beardtongue Penstemon mexicali Pike's Peak Purple$10.99 Sale $10.44Sale Price I Save 5%Per Plant - 5" Deep PotPikes Peak Purple is a superb hybrid variety that blooms most of the summer with large concord grape-purple flowers. The plants are vigorous and have attractive glossy green foliage. A 1999 Plant Select winner. Drought resistant/drought tolerant plant (xeric).Learn More![Red Penstemon pinifolius Compactum, Penstemon pinifolius Compactum, Compact Pineleaf Penstemon]()
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 $10.99 Sale $9.89Per 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).Learn More![Pristine™ Pink Penstemon, Photo Courtesy of Plant Select]()
An improved form of Penstemon, Pristine™ Pink (Penstemon barbatus) blooms for a long time in mid-summer, with glossy foliage that offers lasting texture. Medium-tall spikes of brig...
Learn MorePristine™ Pink Penstemon Pristine™ Pink Beardtongue Penstemon barbatus Pristine™ Pink$10.99 Sale $10.44Sale Price I Save 5%Per Plant - 5" Deep PotAn improved form of Penstemon, Pristine™ Pink (Penstemon barbatus) blooms for a long time in mid-summer, with glossy foliage that offers lasting texture. Medium-tall spikes of bright pink tubular flowers attract hummingbirds and bees. Drought resistant/drought tolerant plant (xeric).Learn More![Cardinal Penstemon Close Up of Red Tubular Blooms]()
Cardinal Penstemon (Penstemon cardinalis) is a rare, cold hardy wildflower from the southern mountains of New Mexico. Tall, impressive spikes of dark red flowers bloom in mid-summer,...
Learn MoreCardinal Penstemon Cardinal Beardtongue Penstemon cardinalis$10.99 Sale $10.44Sale Price I Save 5%Per Plant - 5" Deep PotCardinal Penstemon (Penstemon cardinalis) is a rare, cold hardy wildflower from the southern mountains of New Mexico. Tall, impressive spikes of dark red flowers bloom in mid-summer, making this favorite source of natural nectar for hummingbirds. A must-have for your pollinator garden. Drought resistant/drought tolerant plant (xeric).Learn More
Text and Photos by Founder and Chief Horticulturist David Salman.
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![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'$10.99 Sale $10.44Sale Price I Save 5%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.Learn More![SteppeSuns® Sunset Glow Beard Tongue, Penstemon pinifolius ‘P019S', orange flowers]()
A soft orange-flowered selection of pineleaf beardtongue, SteppeSuns® Sunset Glow Penstemon (Penstemon pinifolius) is a native cultivar that starts flowering in late spring and attr...
Learn MoreSteppeSuns® Sunset Glow Penstemon SteppeSuns® Sunset Glow Beardtongue Penstemon pinifolius 'P019S'$8.99 Sale $8.54Sale Price I Save 5%Per Plant - 2.5" PotA soft orange-flowered selection of pineleaf beardtongue, SteppeSuns® Sunset Glow Penstemon (Penstemon pinifolius) is a native cultivar that starts flowering in late spring and attracts numerous pollinators and hummingbirds. Reminiscent of Colorado summer sunsets, its long-lasting blooms add a warm glow to dry area gardens. Finely textured evergreen foliage forms a compact mound for year-round interest.Learn More![Red Penstemon eatonii Richfield Strain]()
24-36" tall x 15" wide. The Richfield form of Eaton's Beardtongue was selected for its overall vigor and flower production. It blooms in early to mid-spring blooming with tall spikes...
Learn MoreFirecracker Penstemon Richfield Strain Richfield Strain Firecracker Beardtongue Penstemon eatonii Richfield StrainAs low as $8.49 Sale $8.07Per Plant - 2.5" Pot24-36" tall x 15" wide. The Richfield form of Eaton's Beardtongue was selected for its overall vigor and flower production. It blooms in early to mid-spring blooming with tall spikes of brilliant red flowers. Drought resistant/drought tolerant plant (xeric).Learn More![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 $9.49 Sale $9.02Per Plant - 2.5" 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. .Learn More