myGarden.org

Foxglove Penstemon

Penstemon digitalis

Photo: Foxglove Penstemon

Foxglove Penstemon

General description

Common Name: Foxglove beardtongue
Type: Herbaceous perennial
Family: Plantaginaceae
Native Range: Eastern and southeastern United States
Zone: 3 to 8
Height: 3.00 to 5.00 feet
Spread: 1.50 to 2.00 feet
Bloom Time: April to June
Bloom Description: White
Sun: Full sun
Water: Dry to medium
Maintenance: Medium
Suggested Use: Naturalize, Rain Garden
Flower: Showy, Good Cut
Attracts: Birds, Butterflies
Tolerate: Deer, Drought, Clay Soil, Dry Soil
Garden locations

Culture

Grow in average, dry to medium moisture, well-drained soil in full sun. Avoid wet, poorly drained soils.

Noteworthy Characteristics

Penstemon digitalis is a clump-forming, Missouri-native perennial which typically grows 3-5' tall and occurs in prairies, fields, wood margins, open woods and along railroad tracks. Features white, two-lipped, tubular flowers (to 1.25" long) borne in panicles atop erect, rigid stems. Flowers bloom mid-spring to early summer. Basal leaves are elliptic and stem leaves are lance-shaped to oblong. Penstemon in Greek means five stamens (four are fertile and one is sterile). Penstemon is sometimes commonly called beard tongue because the sterile stamen has a tuft of small hairs.

Plant requirements

Tolerate: Deer, Drought, Clay Soil, Dry Soil

Full sun to part shade.

Properties

Height
0 - 170 cm
Color
Soil type
Chalk, Clay
Sunlight
Full sun, Partial shade
PH
Acid, Neutral
Moisture
Moist but well-drained
Hardiness
Hardy