Common name: Penstemon, Beardtongue
Family: Scrophulariaceae, Figwort
Height x width: 6-36" x 6-18"
Growth rate: moderate
Foliage: opposite, lanceolate to ovate-lanceolate, 2-4" long, usually entire, occasionally dentate
Flowers: 2-lipped tubular in terminal racemes, 1-2" long, scarlet to pink to various
Hardiness: zones vary with species
Soil: well-drained, most tolerate drought
Light: sun
Pests and Problems: leaf spots, rusts, root rots from wet soils, aphids, mites (problems seldom serious)
Landscape habit, uses: borders, naturalized, cutting
Other interest: name means 5 (pente) stamens (stemon) refering to its 5 stamens, 4 of which are fertile and the other is often bearded giving rise to the common name; mostly native to western North America and Mexico; popular in England
Other culture:
Propagation: seeds (32,000 seeds per ounce), spring division, mid-summer stem cuttings
Species:
Of the many species available, the following are the more common, cold
hardy to at least zone 6.
| Species | height | flower color | bloom | zones | other |
| ambiguus | 18-24" | pink fading white | summer | 3-8 | |
| angustifolius | 8-12" | pink fading blue | summer | 3-8 | |
| barbatus | 36-42" | red | summer | 3-8 | |
| bridgesii | 12-36" | scarlet | summer | 4-8 | subshrub |
| cyananthus | 12-24" | bright blue | late summer | 4-8 | |
| davidsonii | 4" | violet purple | summer | 6-8 | creeping |
| digitalis | 48-60" | white, purplish | summer | 3-8 | |
| eatonii | 18-24" | scarlet | late summer | 4-8 | |
| eriantherus | 4-8" | purple | summer | 3-8 | |
| fruticosus | 15-18" | lavender, purple | early summer | 4-8 | |
| gracilis | 12-18" | pale violet | summer | 3-8 | basal rosette |
| grandiflorus | 30-36" | pink, lavender | summer | 3-8 | |
| hirsutus | 15-30" | purple, white | late summer | 3-8 | rhizomatous |
| humilis | 4-12" | blue to purple | late summer | 4-8 | rhizomatous |
| linarioides | 12-18" | purple | summer | 4-8 | |
| palmeri | 18-48" | white, pink tint | summer | 5-8 | scented |
| procerus | 4-12" | blue purple | summer | 3-8 | small flowers |
| rydbergii | 12-18" | indigo blue | summer | 4-8 | |
| secundiflorus | 12-18" | blue, violet | summer | 3-8 | |
| serrulatus | 12-24" | blue, purple | late summer | 5-8 | subshrub |
| smallii | 36-42" | pink purple | summer | 6-8 | |
| strictus | 24-30" | blue, violet | summer | 3-8 | |
| subulatus | 24-30" | scarlet | early summer | 6-8 | |
| utahensis | 12-24" | red | early summer | 4-8 | |
| whippleanus | 18-24" | dull purple | summer | 4-8 |
Cultivars:
Most are hybrids of several species. Those below include the most popular
and available in the U.S.
| Cultivar | species | flowers | other |
| 'Albus' | barbatus | white | |
| 'Alice Hindley' | pale lavender, white inner | 2' tall | |
| 'Apple Blossom' | white, pink blush | ||
| 'Catherine de la Mare' | bluish fading purple | 18" tall | |
| 'Charles Rudd' | cherry red, white inner, tubular | ||
| 'Chester Scarlet' | scarlet | 2' tall | |
| 'Coccineus' | barbatus | scarlet | 15-18" |
| 'Elfin Pink' | pink | 12" tall | |
| 'Evelyn' | pale pink | 18" tall, hardy | |
| 'Firebird' | deep red | ||
| 'Garnet' | wine red, late, long flowers | less hardy | |
| 'Hewell's Pink' | pink, white spotted inner | ||
| 'Hidcote Pink' | light pink, nodding | 3-4' tall | |
| 'Husker Red' | digitalis | white | maroon leaves |
| 'Mersea Yellow' | pinifolius | bright yellow | 12" tall |
| 'Midnight' | deep purple, bell shape | 18" tall | |
| 'Papal Purple' | pale purple, tubular | 12-15" tall | |
| 'Port Wine' | wine red | 18" tall | |
| var. praecox f. nana | barbatus | red, early | short |
| 'Prairie Dusk' | purple | ||
| 'Prairie Fire' | lilac-red, white mottled inner | evergreen in south | |
| 'Prairie Splendor' | pink | 24" tall | |
| 'Rose Elf' | shell pink, many | ||
| 'Rubicundus' | scarlet, white inner, wide, tubular | ||
| 'Schoenholzeri':'Firebird' | |||
| 'Schooley's Yellow' | bright yellow | 2' tall | |
| 'Sissinghurst Pink' | light pink | ||
| 'Sour Grapes' | blue violet, bunched | 24" tall | |
| 'Stapleford Gem' | blue, bunched | 30" tall, vigorous | |
| 'White Bedder' | white, tubular | 12-15" tall | |
©Authored by Dr. Leonard Perry, Professor, University of Vermont as part of PSS123 course.
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