General Plant Information (Edit)
Plant Habit: Herb/Forb
Life cycle: Perennial
Sun Requirements: Full Sun
Full Sun to Partial Shade
Minimum cold hardiness: Zone 3 -40 °C (-40 °F) to -37.2 °C (-35)
Maximum recommended zone: Zone 9b
Plant Height: 24 - 36 inches
Plant Spread: 12 - 18 inches
Leaves: Unusual foliage color
Flowers: Showy
Flower Color: White
Bloom Size: Under 1"
Flower Time: Late spring or early summer
Summer
Uses: Will Naturalize
Wildlife Attractant: Bees
Propagation: Seeds: Stratify seeds: 3 months at 40 degrees
Days to germinate: 30-365 days
Depth to plant seed: Surface sow.
Suitable for wintersowing
Start indoors
Can handle transplanting
Other info: Transplant after frost. Space plants 12" apart. Will not flower until second year.
Propagation: Other methods: Cuttings: Stem

Image
Common names
  • Foxglove Beardtongue
  • Smooth White Beardtongue
  • Beard Tongue
  • Foxglove Penstemon
  • Mississippi Penstemon
  • Talus Slope Penstemon
  • Pride of the Mountain
  • Penstemon
Botanical names
  • Accepted: Penstemon digitalis
  • Synonym: Penstemon alluviorum

Photo Gallery
Location: Gardenfish garden
Date: May 11 2020
One year old plant
Location: My Northeastern Indiana Gardens - Zone 5b
Date: 2014-06-29
Location: Barsons Greenhouse, Westland, Michigan
Date: 2019-08-19
Location: Barsons Greenhouse, Westland, Michigan
Date: 2019-08-19
Location: Barsons Greenhouse, Westland, Michigan
Date: 2019-08-19
Location: Barsons Greenhouse, Westland, Michigan
Date: 2019-08-19
Location: Barsons Greenhouse, Westland, Michigan
Date: 2019-08-19
Location: Millersville MD
Date: 2019-10-06
Dried seed pods, they are surprisingly hard to break open
Location: Lilburn, GA
Date: 2023-08-12
Location: My Northeastern Indiana Gardens - Zone 5b
Date: 2014-06-29
Location: Allentown, Pennsylvania
Date: 2015-06-11
Location: Lucketts, Loudoun County, Virginia
Date: 2015-06-12
Location: western Oregon
Date: spring 2014

Photo Courtesy of Prairie Nursery. Used with Permission
  • Uploaded by Joy

Courtesy Gardens in the Wood of Grassy Creek
  • Uploaded by vic
Location: Lucketts, Loudoun County, Virginia
Date: 2016-04-02
Location: Morton Arboretum in Lisle, Illinois
Date: 2015-06-19
group with other prairie plants
Location: Fountain, Florida
Date: 2012-05-04
Location: Fairfax, Virginia (May 2022)
Date: 2022-05-25
Location: Botanical Garden Copenhagen
Date: 2016-12-04
Location: Fairfax, Virginia (May 2022)
Date: 2022-05-25
Location: Lucketts, Loudoun County, Virginia
Date: 2010-05-25
Location: Fountain, Florida
Date: 2012-05-04
Location: Fountain, Florida
Date: 2012-05-04
Location: Mississippi
Date: 2013-05-13
Location: Mississippi
Date: 2013-05-16
Location: My Northeastern Indiana Gardens - Zone 5b
Date: 2013-05-02
Wintersown seedlings
Location: Fairfax, VA | August, 2022
Date: 2022-08-14
Location: Penstemon digitalis (foxglove beardstem), basal rosettes
Photo courtesy of: Tom Potterfield
Location: western Oregon
Date: spring 2013
Location: McEwen TN
Date: 2015-05-27
Location: Fountain, Florida
Date: 2012-05-04
Location: Fountain, Florida
Date: 2012-05-04
shows blooms an buds on stem
Location: Fountain, Florida
Date: 2012-05-04
Comments:
  • Posted by ILPARW (southeast Pennsylvania - Zone 6b) on Feb 17, 2018 7:48 PM concerning plant:
    This Foxglove Beardtongue is the most common of the white flowering beardtongue species in eastern North America. It grows in meadows, prairie, and open woods from South Dakota through southern Quebec to Maine and southward into the South. It is sold by a good number of native plant nurseries.
  • Posted by Catmint20906 (PNW WA half hour south of Olympia - Zone 8a) on Aug 24, 2014 6:21 PM concerning plant:
    Smooth White Beardtongue (Penstemon digitalis) produces white blossoms in late spring to early summer. Native to eastern North America, Penstemon digitalis is a nectar source for butterflies, and a pollinator magnet in the late spring and early summer. It has special value to bumble bees and native bees, particularly small carpenter, wool carder, digger, sweat, and leafcutter bees. Small and medium sized bees are the most frequent visitors, and certain mason bees and pollen-collecting wasps are specialists.

    Penstemon digitalis attracts syrphid flies, a beneficial insect which feeds on aphids. It may also be visited by hummingbirds.
  • Posted by Marilyn (Kentucky - Zone 6a) on May 30, 2013 12:45 AM concerning plant:
    "Penstemon digitalis (penstemon) is a plant in the plantain family, Plantaginaceae. The flowers are white and are borne in summer. It is native to Eastern and Southeastern United States. Its common name is Beardtongue.

    Penstemon digitalis is a herbaceous plant with opposite, simple leaves, on slender, purple stems. It is sometimes called beardtongue, as the stamen has small tufts of "hair". It produces tubular white flowers on 2 to 3 foot stems over attractive dark green foliage. The flowers are produced in June, adding color to the prairie garden. The plant grows in any moist soil in full sun."

    Taken from wikipedia's page at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/P...

Plant Events from our members
pinetastic On June 29, 2023 Obtained plant
From Ivan's garden
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Discussion Threads about this plant
Thread Title Last Reply Replies
Nice shot, chelle by SongofJoy Jul 9, 2014 6:41 AM 3

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