Foxglove Beardtongue

Penstemon digitalis

Native to: PA and further south

Life cycle: Perennial

Light: Full/Partial Sun

Soil Moisture: Medium to Medium-Dry

Height: 1-4’
Spread: 14-18”
Spacing: 12-18”

Blooms: June-July
Bloom Color: White

Natural Habitat: Dry to fertile meadows, woodland edges, roadsides, and waste areas.

Benefits: Pollinator Favorite, Deer/Rabbit Resistant, Bird Favorite, Host Plant (eg. Chalcedony Midget moth), Drought Tolerant, Urban Environment, Low Maintenance

Pairs Well With: New England aster, Virginia mountain-mint, wild bee-balm, scotch bellflower, little bluestem, switch panicgrass, and red columbine

Note: The species epithet of foxglove beardtongue, “digitalis”, is a nod to its similarity in appearance to true foxgloves of genus Digitalis. However, foxglove beardtongue is not closely related to true foxgloves, and is in fact a penstemon!

“Penstemon is well known for a tough-as-nails, grow-anywhere attitude. The flowers are sizeable compared to others in the genus, and the floral stems range in color from green to red. Great for native bees, and also a host plant for the Chalcedony Midget moth.”

– Native Plant Trust

“The tubular flowers of this plant attract long-tongued bees, including honeybees, bumblebees, Miner bees, Mason bees, and hummingbirds. Penstemons are called ‘Beard Tongues’ because the sterile stamen has a tuft of small hairs.”

–Prairie Moon Nursery