Calico Penstemon showing off a variety of pinkish purplish spectrum blooms. Foxglove Beardtongue is on the top left of the photo showing white blooms.
Foxglove Beardtongue (Penstemon digitalis) and Calico Beardtongue (Penstemon calycosus)
These two Penstemon species have good multi-season interest, providing spring blooms, fall color, and winter interest. These plants are favored by many bumblebee species, and some smaller native bee species as well, who enter the tubed flowers to retrieve both pollen and nectar. The dark green, glossy foliage, flower form, reddish fall color, and adaptability to full sun-drier soil to partial shade driers soil make them essential to most native plant displays within or near their native ranges.
They are also tolerant of moderately saturated soils (Wet-Mesic). While the flowers of these beardtongues rise to about 20-26” off the ground; the majority of the foliage occupies 0-18” off the ground. They form clumps that will widen overtime in landscapes, typically living at least 7 years in lifespan. They reseed readily if there is open soil available, holding good permanency in landscapes or prairies long-term. Naturally these plants grow in prairie, savanna, and open woodland environments.
The bloom period is mid to late spring. In prairie landscapes, one of the prettiest spring scenes are Penstemon species blooming with Tradescantia ohioensis (Ohio Spiderwort). Companion plants we recommend to use with these are Sand Coreopsis and Hairy wood mint which together can create a purple/blue, gold, pink or white combo as they bloom at the same time. We also enjoy the combination of Purple Coneflower and these beardtongues, especially in the fall when the coneflower heads turn black and the penstemon stems/foliage turn burgundy.
A close up on Foxglove Beardtongue
A Two spotted Bumblebee on Calico Beardtongue.
Foxglove Beardtongue thriving in a Native Meadow installation.
Calico Beardtongue being productive in partial shade.
Gold = Sand Coreopsis - Coreopsis lanceolata, Purple = Ohio Mint Blephilia ciliata, White = Foxglove Beardtongue
Foxglove Beardtongue teams up with Ohio Spiderwort
Foxglove Beardtongue as a stand alone specimen.
The same Foxglove Beardtongue pictured above, but now in fall color.
A mix of Foxglove Beardtongue and Calico Beardtongue in a Pollinator Garden.
Foxglove Beardtongue - Penstemon digitalis Bonap Range Map (Key Explained Below)
Calico Beardtongue - Penstemon calycosus Bonap Range Map (Key Explained Below)
Key for the Maps Above
Light Green = Reported to an herbarium for the county as native and wild occuring.
Teal = Reported to an herbarium for the county as present and introduced by man.
Yellow = Reported to an herbarium for the county as present but rare.
Green = Reported to an herbarium as present in the state.
Orange = Once reported to an herbarium as native but now considered extinct in that county.
When considering planting a native plant, always google search the scientific name aka latin name with the word “bonap” to look up its native range as reported by country records submitted to herbariums. If the plant is native within 100 miles of your location it will be more ecologically applicable than plants native further away. The further away a plant is native, often, the less ecologically applicable it becomes.