Penstemon digitalis (Foxglove Beardtongue)

Possibly the easiest Penstemon to grow, foxglove beardtongue is a confirmed deer-resistant workhorse that hosts an unusually specific roster of five named moth species while its tubular blooms draw honeybees, bumblebees, mason bees, and hummingbirds all at once.

Species Overview

Penstemon digitalis, or foxglove beardtongue, is a hardy, herbaceous perennial native to eastern and central North America. It produces trumpet-shaped white flowers with a faint purple tint, densely clustered on stiff, erect stems that can reach 3 to 5 feet, blooming in one of the most spectacular and long-lasting early-season shows of any native perennial.

Application

• Pollinator gardens - exceptionally rich larval host and nectar value
• Prairie, meadow, and roadside restoration - tolerates disturbed sites
• Deer-pressured plantings
• Mass plantings for maximum early-season visual impact

Growing Conditions / Specification Data

• Light: Full Sun to Part Shade
• Soil/Moisture Tolerance: Average, well-drained, moist soils; handles dry spells with ease and tolerates all but the most poorly-drained clay
• Drought Tolerance: High
• Flood Tolerance: Low - Prefers well-drained soil, consistent with the general genus (Penstemon) pattern; not tolerant of standing water.
• Plant Type: Forb
• Mature Height: 2-4 ft.
• Fall Color: Insignificant/None - basal rosette may shift to purple hues over winter in warmer parts of its range
• Bloom Color / Period: White; May-August
• Wetland Indicator Status: NI (No Indicator) - see flags
• Native Range: Northeast/Mid-Atlantic (full list)
• Hydrology: Dry-Mesic
• Root Depth: Moderate (12-24 in.)
• Salinity Tolerance: Low
• Growth Rate: Moderate
• Shade Tolerance: Intermediate
• Growth Habit: Clumping/Mounding
• USDA Hardiness Zones: 3-8
• Deer Resistance: Yes (Rarely Damaged)
• Pollinator Value: Larval host, supports bees, supports specialist/oligolectic bees, supports moths, supports hummingbirds

Planting Guidance

• Spreads slowly via rhizome to form large clumps and will re-seed where happy, though it is not an aggressive spreader; space 12-24 in. on center.