288 Species of Genus Penstemon

Beardtongue | Monsteraholic

My Love Affair with Penstemon

The first time I saw a Penstemon, I was captivated. It was a vibrant Penstemon ‘Husker Red’, its deep burgundy foliage contrasting beautifully with the delicate, tubular flowers of soft pink. It was like a beacon in the garden, drawing my eye and refusing to let go. That day, my fascination with the Penstemon genus began, and it has only blossomed since.

A Diverse Genus

Penstemon, or beardtongues as they are affectionately known, are a diverse group of flowering plants native to North America. With over 280 species, they boast a wide array of colors, shapes, and sizes. From the fiery red of Penstemon barbatus to the gentle lavender of Penstemon digitalis, there’s a Penstemon to suit every taste and garden.

  1. Penstemon abietinus Pennell
  2. Penstemon absarokensis Evert
  3. Penstemon acaulis L.O.Williams
  4. Penstemon acuminatus Douglas ex Lindl.
  5. Penstemon alamosensis Pennell & Nisbet
  6. Penstemon albertinus Greene
  7. Penstemon albidus Nutt.
  8. Penstemon albifluvis England
  9. Penstemon albomarginatus M.E.Jones
  10. Penstemon ambiguus Torr.
  11. Penstemon ammophilus N.H.Holmgren & L.M.Schultz
  12. Penstemon amphorellae Crosswh.
  13. Penstemon angelicus (I.M.Johnst.) Moran
  14. Penstemon anguineus Eastw.
  15. Penstemon angustifolius Nutt. ex Pursh
  16. Penstemon arenarius Greene
  17. Penstemon arenicola A.Nelson
  18. Penstemon aridus Rydb.
  19. Penstemon arkansanus Pennell
  20. Penstemon atropurpureus (Sweet) G.Don
  21. Penstemon attenuatus Douglas
  22. Penstemon atwoodii S.L.Welsh
  23. Penstemon auriberbis Pennell
  24. Penstemon australis Small
  25. Penstemon azureus Benth.
  26. Penstemon baccharifolius Hook.
  27. Penstemon barbatus (Cav.) Roth
  28. Penstemon barnebyi N.H.Holmgren
  29. Penstemon barrettiae A.Gray
  30. Penstemon bicolor (Brandegee) Clokey & D.D.Keck
  31. Penstemon bleaklyi O’Kane & K.D.Heil
  32. Penstemon bolanius Straw
  33. Penstemon bracteatus D.D.Keck
  34. Penstemon bradburyi Pursh
  35. Penstemon breviculus (D.D.Keck) G.T.Nisbet & R.C.Jacks.
  36. Penstemon brevisepalus Pennell
  37. Penstemon buckleyi Pennell
  38. Penstemon caesius A.Gray
  39. Penstemon caespitosus Nutt. ex A.Gray
  40. Penstemon calcareus Brandegee
  41. Penstemon californicus (Munz & I.M.Johnst.) D.D.Keck
  42. Penstemon calycosus Small
  43. Penstemon campanulatus (Cav.) Willd.
  44. Penstemon canescens Britton
  45. Penstemon cardinalis Wooton & Standl.
  46. Penstemon cardwellii Howell
  47. Penstemon carnosus Pennell
  48. Penstemon caryi Pennell
  49. Penstemon cedrosensis Krautter
  50. Penstemon centranthifolius (Benth.) Benth.
  51. Penstemon cinicola D.D.Keck
  52. Penstemon clevelandii A.Gray
  53. Penstemon clutei A.Nelson
  54. Penstemon cobaea Nutt.
  55. Penstemon comarrhenus A.Gray
  56. Penstemon concinnus D.D.Keck
  57. Penstemon confertus Douglas
  58. Penstemon confusus M.E.Jones
  59. Penstemon crandallii A.Nelson
  60. Penstemon × crideri A.Nelson
  61. Penstemon curtiflorus (D.D.Keck) N.H.Holmgren
  62. Penstemon cusickii A.Gray
  63. Penstemon cyananthus Hook.
  64. Penstemon cyaneus Pennell
  65. Penstemon cyanocaulis Payson
  66. Penstemon cyathophorus Rydb.
  67. Penstemon dasyphyllus A.Gray
  68. Penstemon davidsonii Greene
  69. Penstemon deamii Pennell
  70. Penstemon deaveri Crosswh.
  71. Penstemon debilis O’Kane & J.L.Anderson
  72. Penstemon degeneri Crosswh.
  73. Penstemon deustus Douglas
  74. Penstemon digitalis Nutt. ex Sims
  75. Penstemon diphyllus Rydb.
  76. Penstemon discolor D.D.Keck
  77. Penstemon dissectus Elliott
  78. Penstemon distans N.H.Holmgren
  79. Penstemon dolius M.E.Jones
  80. Penstemon × dubius Davidson
  81. Penstemon duchesnensis (N.H.Holmgren) Neese
  82. Penstemon dugesii Pérez-Calix & Zacarías
  83. Penstemon eatonii A.Gray
  84. Penstemon elegantulus Pennell
  85. Penstemon ellipticus J.M.Coult. & Fisher
  86. Penstemon eriantherus Nutt. ex Pursh
  87. Penstemon euglaucus English
  88. Penstemon eximius D.D.Keck
  89. Penstemon fasciculatus A.Gray
  90. Penstemon fendleri Torr. & A.Gray
  91. Penstemon filiformis (D.D.Keck) D.D.Keck
  92. Penstemon filisepalis Straw
  93. Penstemon flavescens Pennell
  94. Penstemon floribundus Danley
  95. Penstemon floridus Brandegee
  96. Penstemon flowersii Neese & S.L.Welsh
  97. Penstemon franklinii S.L.Welsh
  98. Penstemon fremontii Torr. & A.Gray
  99. Penstemon fruticiformis Coville
  100. Penstemon fruticosus (Pursh) Greene
  101. Penstemon gairdneri Hook.
  102. Penstemon galloensis G.L.Nesom
  103. Penstemon gentianoides (Kunth) Poir.
  104. Penstemon gentryi Standl.
  105. Penstemon gibbensii Dorn
  106. Penstemon glaber Pursh
  107. Penstemon glandulosus Douglas ex Lindl.
  108. Penstemon glaucinus Pennell
  109. Penstemon globosus (Piper) Pennell & D.D.Keck
  110. Penstemon goodrichii N.H.Holmgren
  111. Penstemon gormanii Greene
  112. Penstemon gracilentus A.Gray
  113. Penstemon gracilis Nutt.
  114. Penstemon grahamii D.D.Keck
  115. Penstemon griffinii A.Nelson
  116. Penstemon grinnellii Eastw.
  117. Penstemon guadalupensis A.Heller
  118. Penstemon hallii A.Gray
  119. Penstemon harbourii A.Gray
  120. Penstemon harringtonii Penland
  121. Penstemon hartwegii Benth.
  122. Penstemon havardii A.Gray
  123. Penstemon haydenii S.Watson ex J.M.Coult.
  124. Penstemon henricksonii Straw
  125. Penstemon hesperius M.E.Peck
  126. Penstemon heterodoxus A.Gray
  127. Penstemon heterophyllus Lindl.
  128. Penstemon hidalgensis Straw
  129. Penstemon hirsutus (L.) Willd.
  130. Penstemon humilis Nutt. ex A.Gray
  131. Penstemon idahoensis N.D.Atwood & S.L.Welsh
  132. Penstemon imberbis (Kunth) Trautv.
  133. Penstemon immanifestus N.H.Holmgren
  134. Penstemon incertus Brandegee
  135. Penstemon inflatus Crosswh.
  136. Penstemon isophyllus B.L.Rob.
  137. Penstemon jamesii Benth.
  138. Penstemon janishiae N.H.Holmgren
  139. Penstemon × jonesii Pennell
  140. Penstemon kingii S.Watson
  141. Penstemon kralii D.Estes
  142. Penstemon labrosus (A.Gray) Mast. ex Hook.f.
  143. Penstemon laetus A.Gray
  144. Penstemon laevigatus Aiton
  145. Penstemon laevis Pennell
  146. Penstemon lanceolatus Benth.
  147. Penstemon laricifolius Hook. & Arn.
  148. Penstemon laxiflorus Pennell
  149. Penstemon laxus A.Nelson
  150. Penstemon leiophyllus Pennell
  151. Penstemon lemhiensis (D.D.Keck) D.D.Keck & Cronquist
  152. Penstemon lentus Pennell
  153. Penstemon leonardii Rydb.
  154. Penstemon leonensis Straw
  155. Penstemon linarioides A.Gray
  156. Penstemon longiflorus (Pennell) S.L.Clark
  157. Penstemon luteus G.L.Nesom
  158. Penstemon lyallii (A.Gray) A.Gray
  159. Penstemon marcusii (D.D.Keck) N.H.Holmgren
  160. Penstemon mensarum Pennell
  161. Penstemon metcalfei Wooton & Standl.
  162. Penstemon miniatus Lindl.
  163. Penstemon × mirus A.Nelson
  164. Penstemon miser A.Gray
  165. Penstemon moffatii Eastw.
  166. Penstemon mohinoranus Straw
  167. Penstemon monoensis A.Heller
  168. Penstemon montanus Greene
  169. Penstemon moriahensis N.H.Holmgren
  170. Penstemon × moronensis Crosswh.
  171. Penstemon mucronatus N.H.Holmgren
  172. Penstemon multiflorus (Benth.) Chapm. ex Small
  173. Penstemon murrayanus Hook.
  174. Penstemon nanus D.D.Keck
  175. Penstemon navajoa N.H.Holmgren
  176. Penstemon neomexicanus Wooton & Standl.
  177. Penstemon neotericus D.D.Keck
  178. Penstemon newberryi A.Gray
  179. Penstemon nitidus Douglas ex Benth.
  180. Penstemon nudiflorus A.Gray
  181. Penstemon occiduus Straw
  182. Penstemon oklahomensis Pennell
  183. Penstemon oliganthus Wooton & Standl.
  184. Penstemon ophianthus Pennell
  185. Penstemon osterhoutii Pennell
  186. Penstemon ovatus Douglas
  187. Penstemon pachyphyllus A.Gray ex Rydb.
  188. Penstemon pahutensis N.H.Holmgren
  189. Penstemon pallidus Small
  190. Penstemon palmeri A.Gray
  191. Penstemon papillatus J.T.Howell
  192. Penstemon × parishii A.Gray
  193. Penstemon parryi A.Gray
  194. Penstemon parvulus (A.Gray) Krautter
  195. Penstemon parvus Pennell
  196. Penstemon patens (M.E.Jones) N.H.Holmgren
  197. Penstemon payettensis A.Nelson & J.F.Macbr.
  198. Penstemon paysoniorum D.D.Keck
  199. Penstemon peckii Pennell
  200. Penstemon × peirsonii Munz & I.M.Johnst.
  201. Penstemon penlandii W.A.Weber
  202. Penstemon pennellianus D.D.Keck
  203. Penstemon perfoliatus Al.Brongn.
  204. Penstemon perpulcher A.Nelson
  205. Penstemon personatus D.D.Keck
  206. Penstemon petiolatus Brandegee
  207. Penstemon pinifolius Greene
  208. Penstemon pinorum L.M.Shultz & J.S.Shultz
  209. Penstemon plagapineus Straw
  210. Penstemon platyphyllus Rydb.
  211. Penstemon potosinus Straw
  212. Penstemon pratensis Greene
  213. Penstemon procerus Douglas ex Graham
  214. Penstemon pruinosus Douglas
  215. Penstemon pseudoparvus Crosswh.
  216. Penstemon pseudoputus (Crosswh.) N.H.Holmgren
  217. Penstemon pseudospectabilis M.E.Jones
  218. Penstemon pudicus Reveal & Beatley
  219. Penstemon pumilus Nutt.
  220. Penstemon punctatus Brandegee
  221. Penstemon purpusii Brandegee
  222. Penstemon putus A.Nelson
  223. Penstemon radicosus A.Nelson
  224. Penstemon rattanii A.Gray
  225. Penstemon reidmoranii Zacarías & A.Wolfe
  226. Penstemon retrorsus Payson
  227. Penstemon rhizomatosus N.H.Holmgren
  228. Penstemon richardsonii Douglas ex Lindl.
  229. Penstemon roezlii Regel
  230. Penstemon roseus (Cerv. ex Sweet) G.Don
  231. Penstemon rostriflorus Kellogg
  232. Penstemon rotundifolius A.Gray
  233. Penstemon rubicundus D.D.Keck
  234. Penstemon rupicola (Piper) Howell
  235. Penstemon rydbergii A.Nelson
  236. Penstemon salmonensis N.H.Holmgren
  237. Penstemon saltarius Crosswh.
  238. Penstemon saxosorum Pennell
  239. Penstemon scapoides D.D.Keck
  240. Penstemon scariosus Pennell
  241. Penstemon schaffneri (Hemsl.) Straw
  242. Penstemon secundiflorus Benth.
  243. Penstemon seorsus (A.Nelson) D.D.Keck
  244. Penstemon sepalulus A.Nelson
  245. Penstemon serrulatus Menzies ex Sm.
  246. Penstemon smallii A.Heller
  247. Penstemon spatulatus Pennell
  248. Penstemon speciosus Douglas
  249. Penstemon spectabilis Thurb. ex A.Gray
  250. Penstemon stenophyllus A.Gray
  251. Penstemon stephensii Brandegee
  252. Penstemon strictiformis Rydb.
  253. Penstemon strictus Benth.
  254. Penstemon subglaber Rydb.
  255. Penstemon subserratus Pennell
  256. Penstemon subulatus M.E.Jones
  257. Penstemon sudans M.E.Jones
  258. Penstemon superbus A.Nelson
  259. Penstemon tenuiflorus Pennell
  260. Penstemon tenuifolius Benth.
  261. Penstemon tenuis Small
  262. Penstemon tepicensis Straw
  263. Penstemon teucrioides Greene
  264. Penstemon thompsoniae (A.Gray) Rydb.
  265. Penstemon thurberi Torr.
  266. Penstemon tidestromii Pennell
  267. Penstemon tiehmii N.H.Holmgren
  268. Penstemon tracyi D.D.Keck
  269. Penstemon triflorus A.Heller
  270. Penstemon triphyllus Douglas
  271. Penstemon tubaeflorus Nutt.
  272. Penstemon uintahensis Pennell
  273. Penstemon utahensis Eastw.
  274. Penstemon venustus Douglas
  275. Penstemon virens Pennell ex Rydb.
  276. Penstemon virgatus A.Gray
  277. Penstemon vizcainensis Moran
  278. Penstemon vulcanellus Crosswh.
  279. Penstemon wardii A.Gray
  280. Penstemon washingtonensis D.D.Keck
  281. Penstemon watsonii A.Gray
  282. Penstemon wendtiorum B.L.Turner
  283. Penstemon whippleanus A.Gray
  284. Penstemon wilcoxii Rydb.
  285. Penstemon wislizeni (A.Gray) Straw
  286. Penstemon wrightii Hook.
  287. Penstemon xylus A.Nelson
  288. Penstemon yampaensis Penland

Is beardtongue invasive?

In my experience, beardtongue isn’t particularly invasive in the garden. It tends to stay where you plant it without spreading aggressively. However, it can self-seed if you let the spent flowers drop seeds, so I usually deadhead them to prevent any unwanted spreading.

How to deadhead beardtongue?

Deadheading beardtongue is pretty straightforward. Once the flowers start to fade and dry up, I simply pinch them off at the base with my fingers or use scissors if they’re tough. This not only tidies up the plant but also encourages more blooms throughout the season.

Is beardtongue deer resistant?

From what I’ve observed, beardtongue seems to be relatively deer-resistant. Deer tend to leave it alone in my garden, even when they’re munching on other nearby plants. However, it’s worth noting that deer preferences can vary depending on factors like population density and available food sources.

Is beardtongue poisonous to dogs?

I’ve done some research on this because I have a dog, and from what I’ve found, beardtongue isn’t considered toxic to dogs. Of course, it’s always a good idea to monitor pets around any new plants and consult with a veterinarian if you have concerns about their safety.

Do hummingbirds like beardtongue?

Absolutely! In my garden, I’ve noticed that hummingbirds are attracted to beardtongue flowers. The tubular shape of the blossoms is perfect for their long, slender beaks, and they seem to visit them frequently during the blooming season, which is always a joy to watch.

Do rabbits eat beardtongue? 

Fortunately, rabbits haven’t shown much interest in my beardtongue plants. It seems that they prefer other types of vegetation in my garden, so my beardtongue plants have remained untouched by rabbit nibbles.

How to care for beardtongue?

Caring for beardtongue is relatively straightforward. They thrive in well-drained soil and prefer full sun but can tolerate some light shade. Regular watering is important, especially during dry spells, to keep the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged. However, once established, they’re quite drought-tolerant. Pruning spent flowers can encourage more blooms and maintain a tidy appearance. Additionally, applying a layer of mulch around the base of the plants helps retain moisture and suppress weeds. Overall, beardtongue is a low-maintenance plant that adds vibrant color and attracts pollinators to the garden.

How to propagate beardtongue?

Propagating beardtongue can be done through division or by collecting seeds. I’ve had success dividing mature plants in early spring or fall, making sure each division has roots attached. Collecting seeds from dried flower heads and planting them in well-prepared soil in the fall can also yield new plants.

When does beardtongue bloom?

Beardtongue typically blooms from late spring to early summer in my area. The exact timing can vary depending on the specific variety and local climate conditions, but I usually start seeing their colorful flowers around May or June.

Are beardtongue edible?

While some plants in the Penstemon genus have traditional medicinal uses, I haven’t come across any information suggesting that beardtongue is commonly consumed as food. As always, it’s essential to be cautious with wild or unfamiliar plants and verify their edibility before considering them for culinary use.

Are beardtongues perennials?

Yes, beardtongues are perennials, meaning they come back year after year from the same root system. With proper care, they can live for several years, providing beautiful blooms each spring and summer.

Are beardtongues the same as snapdragons?

While both beardtongues (Penstemon) and snapdragons (Antirrhinum) belong to the Plantaginaceae family and share similarities in flower shape, they are different genera with distinct characteristics. Beardtongues typically have tubular flowers and are native to North America, while snapdragons have more open, “snap-like” flowers and are often grown as annuals or tender perennials.

Penstemon vs Cupids Dart

I’ve found Penstemon to be hardier and easier to care for compared to Cupid’s Dart. The Penstemon’s vibrant blooms last longer through the season, giving my garden a burst of color well into late summer. Cupid’s Dart, while beautiful with its delicate blue flowers, requires more attention to soil conditions and watering, which sometimes makes it more challenging to grow consistently.

Penstemon vs Foxglove

Penstemon’s versatility and drought tolerance make it a standout in my garden compared to Foxglove. While Foxglove has that classic cottage garden charm with its tall spikes of bell-shaped flowers, I find Penstemon to be more reliable in varying weather conditions. Plus, Penstemon attracts more pollinators like bees and butterflies, adding an extra ecological benefit to my garden space.

Penstemon vs Salvia

I lean towards Penstemon over Salvia for its sheer variety in colors and shapes. I’ve grown several Penstemon varieties, each bringing a unique flair to different parts of my garden. Salvia, although also attractive to pollinators and easy to grow, tends to have a more limited color range in my experience. Penstemon’s ability to thrive in both full sun and partial shade gives me more flexibility in landscaping.

Penstemon vs Zauschneria

Zauschneria, or California Fuchsia, adds a fiery burst of red-orange blooms in late summer, but Penstemon wins out for me due to its longer flowering season and broader range of cultivars. I’ve enjoyed experimenting with different Penstemon species, from the compact ‘Husker Red’ to the showy ‘Electric Blue’. While Zauschneria is great for late-season color and hummingbird attraction, Penstemon offers more diversity and adaptability in my garden beds.

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