Penstemon tubaeflorus

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Penstemon tubaeflorus

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Kemper Code: L530

Common Name: beard tongue
Zone: 4 to 8
Plant Type: Herbaceous perennial
Family: Scrophulariaceae
Missouri Native: Yes
Native Range: Eastern and central United States
Height: 1 to 3 feet
Spread: 1 to 1.5 feet
Bloom Time: May - June Bloom Data
Bloom Color: White
Sun: Full sun
Water: Dry to medium
Maintenance: Low

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Plant Culture and Characteristics

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Uses:		Wildlife:	Flowers:	Leaves:	Fruit:
Hedge	Suitable as annual	Attracts birds	Has showy flowers	Leaves colorful	Has showy fruit
Shade tree	Culinary herb	Attracts	Has fragrant flowers	Leaves fragrant	Fruit edible
Street tree	Vegetable	hummingbirds	Flowers not showy	Good fall color	Other:
Flowering tree	Water garden plant	Attracts	Good cut flower	Evergreen	Winter interest
Gr. cover (<1')	Will naturalize	butterflies	Good dried flower		Thorns or spines

General Culture:

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

Noteworthy Characteristics:

This penstemon is a clump-forming, Missouri native perennial which occurs in dryish soils on prairies, limestone glades, open woods and along railroad tracks. Typically grows 1-3' tall. Features loose, terminal clusters of white, trumpet-shaped flowers (to 1.25" long) atop erect, rigid stems. Flowers bloom in mid to late spring. Narrow, lance-shaped foliage (to 4" long). Penstemon in Greek means five stamens (four are fertile and one is sterile). Sometimes commonly called beard tongue because the sterile stamen has a tuft of small hairs.

Problems:

No serious insect or disease problems. Root rot can occur in wet, poorly-drained soils.

Uses:

Mass in sunny borders, native plant gardens and wild gardens.